What can we do as consumers to lower the price of oil?

If it is true that supply and demand affects the price of goods, then we as consumers should be able to lower the price of oil by being determined to consume a lot less gas and petroleum base products. It has to be done over a long period of time, for example walking to the store when possible, doing a few errands at the same time, buying cars with better fuel efficiency.





I also think it is not a bad Idea to start a national day without gas (except for those with especific needs like, police, fire fighters, doctors, etc.). Even though this doesn't affect supply and demand it sends a strong message to the oil producing companies that people really care about the price of oil. Any thoughs on this issue?What can we do as consumers to lower the price of oil?
This is a good question. It is stated better than many other people who ask ';Oh Mi God, what is it now?';





On the political level, there is a campaign right now for President. At every debate where people can ask questions, we need to be asking about issues that are important to us. One is not that the gasoline prices are rising sharply, but the nation's dependency on foreign oil which in turn has problems: our involvement in Middle East conflicts; the world's oil supplies may be running out.





Another national political issue is that oil is available from the ocean floor all over the place, but we have banned off shore oil rigs along east %26amp; west coasts of America, limiting to Gulf of Mexico which can be hazardous to our oil health in hurricane season. There needs to be a national debate as to the wisdom of not allowing oil drilling off east and west coasts of America.





Is there appropriate funding for finding solutions to the nuclear waste from power plants, or developing fusion power, which in theory has no nuclear waste?





There's also local politics. Did you know that there are alternatives to gasoline and diesel (like 18 wheelers use) for fueling vehicles? Some of these alternatives make sense for fleets of city busses, city vehicles like fire, police, ambulance. If your city has not already looked into this, maybe it is time someone suggested it.





Check out Yahoo Answers category on tje ENVIRONMENT ... there's stuff in there about alternative energy vehicles.





There's also company vehicles. This is where different employees may borrow a car or pickup that belongs to the company. Now with our personal car, we get regular oil changes, tune-ups etc. but who is taking care of that for the company vehicle? Is it getting proper maintenance, or has it turned into a gas guzzler %26amp; no one paying attention?





There are trade-offs between fuel consumption, and added pollution, and wear %26amp; tear on car parts, from frequently turning off and restarting our engines. Suppose you are in a traffic jam %26amp; it looks like the traffic won't be moving for a certain length of time ... does it make sense to turn off your engine while waiting? Perhaps this should be a separate question in Yahoo Answers in a different Category such as Cars %26amp; Transportation, or Science %26amp; the Environment.





Look at how the nation has developed ... with the Interstate Highway system ... we all love the freedom, get in our car %26amp; go anywhere. Is there any way that infrastructure can be evolved economically, without seriously impairing our freedoms?





Example, where interstates between cities have a large ribbon of grass in between opposite direction traffic, install a rail line, where we can drive our cars on board, then ride in passenger section. This way if we doing a trip of hundreds of miles, we arrive at destination city with our personal car, but the rail line used electricity from hydro-electric or other alternative energy, and our trip was much more restful.





We live on a planet with non-renewable energy sources that we are using up, while sunlight streams past our planet, going to waste. Can't some of that solar energy be captured out in space, and redirected to Earth in a safe way? This requires sustained support for NASA or whatever agency will install it, then protect it from terrorists. They won't go up there, they will attack the infrastructure on earth that controls the technology.





Many people have already taken economy measures, and have nothing new to try.





New cars are out that get vastly superior miles per gallon. Can we afford to switch?





Bicycles don't use any gasoline. Is it safe and practical where we are to switch to this for some travel?





If we have a bunch of errands, can we plan our trip to minimize the distance traveled?





Are any of us in a situation where car-pooling is practical, that we are not already doing.





If there is a shortage, then all of us filling our tanks %26amp; driving around with semi-full, that we won't need for a few days, helps lower supply at gas pumps. If we were to only fill 1/2 our tank, refill more often, then more not yet sold, less of a shortage, lower prices. This notion depends on the theory that there is a shortage %26amp; many people buy into it.





I have answered variations on this question before with somewhat different focus. Check out:





I got best answer (out of 9) here: I tried to explain OTHER stuff than normal supply %26amp; demand


* international situation that is driving gas prices up


* future's market impact on gas pricing


* artificial bottlenecks


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;鈥?/a>What can we do as consumers to lower the price of oil?
Good question....





The only pressure that consumers can exert is to decrease demand... Although the way the supplies are drying up we'd have to slash demand rather than just walk to the store once a week..





And Matthew? - What are you, like 8 years old?





Fuel may be cheap in the US... You know why?





Because your Government keeps it that way to make sure your parents keep voting for them...





It doesn't have to worry about it's supply drying up just yet because every-time a country threatens to withhold the oil, the Marines get sent in to 'Depose a corrupt leader'





Why do you think nothing's happening about the situation in Burma?... You did know something was happening in Burma?





That's right... No oil...





The (over) developed world is bleeding the planet dry... And it's people with your attitude that are the main offenders..





(Sorry for hijacking the thread... But ignorance of global issues really makes my blood boil)
abstinence
While it is true that most of us (simple folks) can stop using gas or resort to other methods of travel, many do not like to be inconvenienced. This is doubly true for business people - they can't afford to not use gas. Business does not stand still.





A Moratorium is a great idea, however, I don't know how many would actually trade their inconvenience to make a point. This has been tried in the past - boycotting ExxonMobile and using some other gas. And the outcome? They're making just as much money as before. Our manufacturers of SUVs, trucks, cars have not declined any even with the ridiculous amounts gas are being charged for. You need a national movement to make OPEC sit up and take notice. They are counting on the consumers who are buying up the gas-guzzlers to continue the upward trend.
In my opinion, the entire issue is rubbish. Petrol is CHEAP! Just because you don't like paying for it doesn't change the fact that transportation, heating, energy in general is cheaper now than at any time in human history. The reason you want it to be even cheaper is because you enjoy it so very, very much. It's worth what we are paying - if it weren't worth it, we wouldn't pay it. It's simple.
I think the registration for suv's should be like $1000 per year people would stop buying them. Base a fee of registration an a cars fuel consumption