Could high fuel prices benefit us?
Though it may seem like a shocking idea, high fuel prices may actually have some benefits for our society as a whole. This is because high gasoline prices have turned many individuals off of SUVs and other cars that require a lot of gas. Also, in many cases individuals are also choosing to ride public transportation, which in the long run would also decrease carbon emissions. In addition, high gas prices have also lead individuals to cut down the amount that they drive. All together, less SUVs on the road, more gas efficient cars and less driving, can really reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions and in turn reduce global warming.
The record high gas prices in the US, have increased more than 20% since January and by the end of April the average gas price was around $3.65. Until recently, however the high prices did not seem to have much of an effect on the American populace, this could be the result of the fact that gas consumption has been increasing every year since 1991.
It is important to note that studies have been made which show that on 1.4 million car purchases made over the last 10 years, the least fuel efficient cars, including SUVs, trucks and so forth, fell by about 13% for every $1 per gallon increase. While at the same time every $1 increase has led to a 17% increase in the amount of gas efficient vehicles being bought, these efficient cars include compact cars and hybrids. The studies have also said that these buying habits could in fact cut the amount of gasoline used by about 7% for every $1 increase.
It is clear that people are noticing the soaring gas prices and are taking actions that will help their wallet. Non fuel efficient cars are losing their appeal, while fuel efficient cars have grown increasingly popular. High gas prices are certainly taking their toll, but not all is lost and not all is bad. The high prices have lead many individuals to take stronger precautions about how much gas they are consuming and though their wallet may be the reason they cut down gas comsumption, this decrease will have a very positive impact for our environment.
This entry was posted on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 2:48 am and is filed under Do It Yourself, Starry Night Lights, environment, global warming, green building. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
One Response to “Could high fuel prices benefit us?”
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May 9th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I think a more likely benefit is that the efficiency of cars will get better. With the price of gas getting this high the car companies are going to have to make efficiency changes in order to keep business going.