Gas Prices

Gas prices affect everything in today’s modern world, from groceries to vacations. It is in the news, in conversations with your friends and all over the Internet. “The price of gas is ridiculously high and I can’t afford it,” is no longer an uncommon phrase. Generally, Americans are worried about today’s economy but they just don’t know what to do about it and still keep their current lifestyle. Possibly it is time to change that lifestyle and possibly, just possibly, it is for the better.

According to national figures from the US Department of Energy in March 2007, 52% of the cost of gasoline went to pay for crude oil, 24% for refining, 15% to taxes, and 9% for distribution and marketing. The largest consumer of gasoline in the world is the United States, which used an average of 386 million US gallons of gasoline each day in 2005 (wikipedia). The average American uses 500 gallons of gasoline every year. The average vehicle is driven more than 12,000 miles per year today. That number is expected to increase about 40 percent during the next 20 years if Americans don’t change their driving habits by using public transportation, carpooling, walking or bicycling (US Energy Information Administration).

There is actually a possibility of making money on the rising gas prices from your home. Visit Wikipedia Gas Price Website for details. Some websites that update gas prices for consumers provide incentives, such as gas cards, just for updating gas prices on their sites for them.

There are also many different ways to save on gas prices.

Car Maintenance Can Lower your Gas Prices

Check your tires. Over-inflated and under-inflated tires can affect fuel economy. It can take off 3.3% of your gas mileage if tires are not properly maintained according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Replace air filters. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, you can save up to 10% in gas mileage if regularly changing air filters. Routinely check oil filters and spark plugs. “Dirty air and oil filters combined with dirty oil can decrease mileage by 2.5 mpg. Worn spark plugs can decrease mileage by 3 mpg. A non-functioning oxygen sensor can decrease mileage 3 mpg or more.”

Remove any unnecessary items from your car and trunk. Every 100 pounds of weight in your car adds another 1 - 2% to your gas prices. You can actually save between 4 and 7 cents per gallon in gas prices by reducing the weight in the car.

Remove roof racks, ski racks, bicycle racks from your car when not in use. These racks can really affect the aerodynamics of your car and increase your gas prices.

Beware of “gas saving” product claims. The EPA has a list of products that may save a small measurable amount of gas. If they haven’t tested the product you are looking into, beware, as you may not be saving in gas prices. You may find the EPA’s consumer list at: Gas Savings Products.

Changing your Driving Style Can Lower your Gas Prices

Drive at posted speeds. “The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. For example, driving at 65 miles per hour (mph), rather than 55 mph, increases fuel consumption by 20 percent. Driving at 75 mph, rather than 65 mph, increases fuel consumption by another 25 percent.” says the Federal Trade Commission.

Use your overdrive gears during highway driving. Your car's engine speed decreases when you use overdrive which reduces fuel consumption.

Keep a constant speed as much as possible. Using cruise control can help you save in gas prices. Avoid driving aggressively with many stops and starts and/or tailgating.

Use an Alternate Method of Getting There to Save in Gas Prices

There are many ways to travel besides your own car. If you work close to your home, use your bicycle as a nice workout and carry a change of clothing in your backpack. Walk to your local convenience store rather than driving if it is close enough. Take advantage and find a silver lining in the rise of gas prices – get fit!

Use your local transit, participate in a ride share with co-workers, or encourage your employer to offer vanpooling for your office.

Plan your routes and your errands. If errands can be done during the week on the way to work or after work, do them while already on the route. Making extra trips can really add up on your gas prices. Make a grocery list before going to the store, forgetting important items can cause another extra trip.

When planning vacation, plan to leave your car at your home. Check local bus lines, trains, and airplanes for transportation methods to save in gas prices.

Work from home. Use the WAHM work at home job search page to begin looking for a job that suits you and your career choice. Ask your employer for one or two work from home days. It is in your employer’s best interest as well as yours to take a few days to work from home if your job is mainly done on the computer.

The Silver Lining on High Gas Prices

There is a silver lining to rising gas prices, although we are all frustrated with the effects it has on the economy today. Cars are a major convenience and allow us to work at greater distances and carry groceries home, but can you imagine a world without a daily car ride? The average American spends 36 hours per year stuck motionless in traffic (2001 EPA). Saving the environment. “Mobile sources (such as cars and trucks) pollute the air through combustion and fuel evaporation. These emissions contribute greatly to air pollution nationwide and are the primary cause of air pollution in many urban areas,” according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Driving more responsibly as Americans can lead to cleaner air. If you would like to do more than just help our environment with driving less, you can look at the US EPA’s Personal Emissions Calculator .

Becoming fit. You can choose to ride your bicycle to work if it is close enough to do so. You can choose to walk to the convenience store rather than starting up your car just to turn it off and start it again all in five minutes time. No longer will you feel like the odd man out by walking, cycling, or choosing another aerobic method of getting to work, because you are saving in gas prices, and you are looking better every day!

Working from home. You can use the gas price argument with your employer much easier today than three years ago. Your employer can not deny the facts of the economy as it directly relates to your paycheck and hers. Working from home one or two days each week can save your employer money in electricity (air conditioning, lighting, etc), water, beverages (such as that free coffee they provide), general wear and tear of equipment, and cost of living raises (to cover rising gas prices). Your employer can also use working from home as an incentive to bring in more of those qualified employees they have been looking for.

A stronger and healthier family. Choosing to use your family’s vehicles only in times of need and longer distances can make your family healthier, and also provide an avenue to stronger family bonds, not to mention saving in gas prices. We have all seen and heard the commercials promoting the “family table” but what if your family isn’t ready to sit down and eat all at the same time? Possibly arranging a time for a walk with the family to the local park or even to the store if you need a small item could be a more convenient time for you all. Your pets will be healthier if you take them with you around the block too!

Stronger neighborhood bonds and fellowship. Saving on gas prices means driving less or staying closer to your home. This, in turn, makes us all rethink the visit to the local park, local swimming pool, or even take up a local game of golf or volleyball. Staying closer to home means your family will become more familiar with neighbors, making new friends, and possibly creating a stronger bond with the people who live closest to you.

Vitamin D healthier. The sun can be an enemy, but it is also our greatest friend. Without the sun we obviously can not survive. It was found that about 1 billion people worldwide are Vitamin D deficient according to Science Daily. Vitamin D can participate in the causes that lead to bowel, prostate, and breast cancer, as well as type 1 diabetes and osteoporosis. Unfortunately, the risk of skin cancer deters doctors from telling us to get sun. Shielding ourselves completely is also not healthy. Getting a small amount of sun each day is healthy and can reduce risks of many diseases. If you are getting tan through the window of your car, home, or office, please realize that you are not getting Vitamin D as it does not penetrate through glass. There are also items that should be a part of your healthy diet to supplement your Vitamin D levels. To get the lowdown of Vitamin D and the effects of sun, the Office of Dietary Supplements has a great website.

Read the follow-up article on the Woman's Garden: If the Cost of Fuel is So High, Why Aren't We Making Any Personal Changes?

Resources:

US Environmental Protection Agency
Mobile Source Emmissions

US Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.fueleconomy.gov

US Environmental Protection Agency
Best Workplaces for Commuters

Federal Trade Commission
Gas Saving Products

Science Daily
Vitamin D Deficiancy

Office of Dietary Supplements
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp

Wikipedia
Gasoline Usage and Pricing

US Energy Information Administration
Energy Kids Page