6 easy ways to start cutting oil consumption now

Published Friday, 3rd June 2011

What is it about oil that makes us so conflicted? Oh yeah … the love-hate thing.

A line from the movie “Fight Club” sums it up: “You love me, you hate me. You show me a sensitive side, then you turn into a total a..hole. Is this a pretty accurate description of our relationship?”

Nowhere is that description more apt than in the US, where happy motoring is built into the DNA but griping about prices at the pump and OPEC nations is a way of life. With crude oil now in the triple-digit price range and predictions of $150-per-barrel costs in the coming year, though, the car culture as we know it is long overdue for a makeover.

But how do you make transportation less oil-dependent at a time when austerity-minded governments are unlikely to shell out the billions upon billions that would be needed for high-speed trains and municipal subways? Here are six solutions that could help with little to moderate investment required:

Pay-as-you-drive insurance. Also known as usage-based insurance, these types of policies encourage car-owners to drive less by basing insurance fees on mileage. The approach has been found to reduce the number of accidents. If implemented widely, it could also make a significant dent on both traffic congestion and gas consumption.
Telecommuting. Too many businesses remain wedded to the idea that all employees must be in the company building for x number of hours a day to really be working. With email, Skype chat, teleconferencing and so many online tools now easily available, there’s no reason many more people couldn’t work from home at least part time. And every not not spent commuting saves time, wear-and-tear on both roads and vehicles, gas and money.
Car sharing or car clubs. ZipCar and similar businesses offer people a way to drive when they need to … without having to actually own a car. A sort-of short-term, ad hoc car rental service, car sharing itself doesn’t necessarily reduce gas consumption but certainly reduces the “hop-in-the-car-and-drive-anywhere-anytime” mentality. It also makes it easier for people to upgrade to a more fuel-efficient vehicle than they might be able to afford on their own.
Bus rapid transit. Faster than a standard bus service and cheaper (and faster) to implement than light rail, bus rapid transit (BRT) typically uses dedicated traffic lanes to transport commuters from stop to stop. The Brazilian city of Curitiba’s RIT bus system is widely held as the inspiration for numerous similar services around the world.
Congestion pricing. Already in place in cities such as London and Stockholm, congestion pricing schemes charge motorists increased fees for driving into busy areas during times of high traffic. When congestion is lower, fees also drop. “(A) small decrease in the number of vehicles on the road can lead to a large decrease in roadway congestion,” states “Freedom from Oil: How Transportation Choices Can Provide Gas Price Relief,” a report from the US Congressional Democratic Caucus’ Livable Communities Task Force. “In 2008, the 3 percent reduction in cars on the road due to rising gas prices led to a 30% drop in the peak hour roadway congestion across the nation. At 3.9 billion gallons and $114.8 billion wasted per year in congestion, even small reductions would add up to significant savings.”
Vanpools. The Livable Communities Task Force recommends government incentives to encourage businesses to adopt van pools and other efficient commuting programs. “Vanpools help commuters save time spent in traffic, reduce their gasoline and parking costs, and see significant help benefits due to reduced stress and pressure,” the “Freedom from Oil” report states. Plus, they’re cost-effective and relatively easy to implement.