As Gas Prices Rise, Eco-Friendly Ideas Should Too

11

Author: Juliet Suess

At the beginning of this school year, gas was 2.75 dollars a gallon at the corner of Colorado and Eagle Rock. Today, gas costs 4.26 dollars at the same Shell station. According to californiagasprices.com, this is the most gas has cost since it reached a high of 4.58 dollars in 2008.

The recent increase in gas prices has once again made it difficult for college students across the country to fill up their gas tanks.

There is little that individuals can do about the gas prices themselves, but students can do a lot to save fuel and help the environment.

Ideally, everyone would be able to afford a new electric car, but this is hardly an option for most college students. A more realistic alternative to buying an electric car would be for people to bike or walk everywhere, but this poses its own set of challenges, as individuals often have to travel long distances or go through rough neighborhoods at night. Since cars are needed in some instances, people should take the time to do simple things to save themselves money and also help to save the environment.

When college students have the financial means, they should look into buying an electric car. According to Dan Pierce, the environmental communications manager for Ford Motor Company, the initial cost of an electric car is generally higher than its gasoline-powered counterpart, but the amount saved in gas eventually closes the price gap. In the long run, electric cars cost less than conventional automobiles.

To further help the environment, students should walk or ride a bike as much as possible. Buying a bike could save students thousands of dollars in comparison to buying a new car and could save them hundreds in fuel expenses. This strategy also reduces harm to the environment, which is a benefit for society at large. However, this option may not be plausible for students who have off-campus responsibilities or other off-campus needs. In this case, there are many options to use less gas, therefore saving money and putting less pollution into the air. On campus, the Bengal Bus is available so that students can travel in groups and use fewer cars to go to the same place. There is also public transportation, which may not be the quickest option, but it saves a lot of money (bus tickets are only 1.25 dollars a line) and a lot of gas.

In the case that a car is needed, there are ways to limit gas consumption. Pierce provided useful tips to save gas that should be followed, since they not only save money but also help to decrease uncombusted fuel emissions into the air. Driving at 55 mph instead of 65 improves gas mileage, while slowly accelerating keeps engine revolutions down and uses less gas than flooring the accelerator. Also, when driving at any speed over 50 mph, make sure all windows are closed to decrease aerodynamic drag. While waiting for friends or food at a fast-food restaurant, do not idle for longer than 30 seconds. It takes less gas to turn a car on and off than to idle for more than 30 seconds. Despite the wear and tear on the starter motor, turning your car on and off to avoid idling saves money on gas and reduces your carbon footprint. Do not pack too many friends or too much junk into the car. Travel as light as possible and do not put things on the roof, as that decreases the aerodynamic efficiency of your vehicle.

Car companies are developing new technologies with the goal of saving consumers money on fuel and reducing green house gas emissions. However, until college students can afford to take advantage of these new technologies, there are still a few ways to decrease gas consumption. Taking the time to follow Pierce’s suggestions, or buying a bike, can save consumers hundreds to thousands of dollars. In addition, it will reduce the carbon footprint left behind by gasoline powered cars. Americans should transition to electric powered cars whenever it is feasible, since saving money and the environment at the same time is a great deal?.

Juliet Suess is a first-year ECLS major. She can be reached at suess@oxy.edu.

 

This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.

Loading

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here