Obama is Right About the Tire-Gauge Energy Solution
August 7, 2008 · Print This Article
Republicans had a giddy, gleeful field day this week after Barack Obama stated that if all Americans inflated their tires properly and got their vehicles regular tune-ups, we could save as much oil as new offshore drilling could produce. This absolutely ridiculous suggestion really got them fired up, prompting the Republican National Committee to send Washington reporters tire gauges labeled “Barack Obama’s Energy Plan” in an attempt to ridicule the Democratic presidential candidate.
Too bad the joke’s on them – Obama’s statement is true. From TIME Magazine:
The Bush Administration estimates that expanded offshore drilling could increase oil production by 200,000 bbl. per day by 2030. We use about 20 million bbl. per day, so that would meet about 1% of our demand two decades from now. Meanwhile, efficiency experts say that keeping tires inflated can improve gas mileage 3%, and regular maintenance can add another 4%. Many drivers already follow their advice, but if everyone did, we could immediately reduce demand several percentage points. In other words: Obama is right.
As TIME points out, conservation and efficiency are the best approach to dealing with the energy crisis, and we can do it without making huge changes to our lifestyle. There are a million different ways that we could use to seriously reduce our energy use if most of the people in the country gave them a shot: better insulation, unplugging electronics that aren’t in use, carpooling, cutting down on idling and reducing our speed on the road. What Obama has suggested is the obvious front line of defense against the energy crisis: common sense.
It’s a pretty simple concept: if our use of fossil fuels is increasing our reliance on Middle Eastern dictators while destroying the planet, maybe we ought to use less.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Link [TIME Magazine]
- Protect Our Coasts: No More Offshore Oil Drilling!
- Tell the Department of Energy: Prioritize Energy Efficiency!
- Sen. Obama: Withdraw Your Support of "Clean Coal"
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Reducing our energy use, not driving as much, those are all things that require sacrifice. Nobody wants to sacrifice. That reduces our happiness. We want solutions that allow us to continue enjoying our lives with out crippling us.
OTS:
You’ve gotta be kidding me. Keeping your tires inflated and your car tuned up properly count as “sacrifice”? WTF is wrong with you?
[...] Get a tune-up. Just like Barack Obama said before the McCain camp mistakenly ridiculed him for it, tuning up your car and keeping your tires inflated can save you a ton of gas, helping both your [...]