Intl Energy Agency urges ways to save fuel during crisis

Heard about this today and immediately knew pretty much none of this would fly here in the US. Probably more aimed at countries that aren't net exporters of oil. I've heard that some towns the Philippines have moved to four day work weeks.

If I dared bring this up to the owner of my company, he would sarcastically say I could go elsewhere if I wanted to WFH. He thinks anyone who works remote is a slacker, yet a few people are allowed to do it, and he does it all the time. Plus many long haul flights annually back to Asian home country. He was pissed for months during covid when he wasn't able to fly internationally. I wonder if this might jump start some more progressive companies to allowing WFH or to go hybrid that aren't already.

I can't do anything to cut my fuel usage. I have a Crosstrek that gets about 25-27 mph. I drive 40 miles round trip a day. All on surface streets. Church is three miles away and I'm there several times a week. Otherwise I stay home since I'm not currently diving.

https://www.iea.org/news/new-iea-rep...ly-disruptions

Report link: https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/as...moilshocks.pdf

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Immediate actions to reduce demand:

1. Work from home where possible
Displaces oil use from commuting, particularly where jobs are suitable for remote work.

2. Reduce highway speed limits by at least 10 km/h
Lower speeds reduce fuel use for passenger cars, vans and trucks.

3. Encourage public transport
A shift from private cars to buses and trains can quickly reduce oil demand.

4. Alternate private car access to roads in large cities on different days
Number-plate rotation schemes can reduce congestion and fuel-intensive driving.

5. Increase car sharing and adopt efficient driving practices
Higher car occupancy and eco-driving can lower fuel consumption quickly.

6. Efficient driving for road commercial vehicles and delivery of goods
Better driving practices, vehicle maintenance and load optimisation can cut diesel use.

7. Divert LPG use from transport
Shifting bi-fuel and converted vehicles from LPG to gasoline can preserve LPG for cooking and other essential needs.

8. Avoid air travel where alternative options exist
Reducing business flights can quickly ease pressure on jet fuel markets.

9. Where possible, switch to other modern cooking solutions
Encouraging electric cooking and other modern options can reduce reliance on LPG.

10. Leverage flexibility with petrochemical feedstocks and implement short-term efficiency and maintenance measures
Industry can help free up LPG for essential uses while reducing oil consumption through quick operational improvements.

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I remember when the speed limit during a past energy crisis was 55 mph, lines at gas stations, and Carter coming on TV in a sweater and recommending backing off on home heating. Realistically, I don't see much of that happening again unless gas goes up even more or there are real shortages.

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Originally Posted by Rogar

I remember when the speed limit during a past energy crisis was 55 mph, lines at gas stations, and Carter coming on TV in a sweater and recommending backing off on home heating. Realistically, I don't see much of that happening again unless gas goes up even more or there are real shortages.

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Everything I've read says there won't be shortages here.

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Originally Posted by Rogar

I remember when the speed limit during a past energy crisis was 55 mph, lines at gas stations, and Carter coming on TV in a sweater and recommending backing off on home heating. Realistically, I don't see much of that happening again unless gas goes up even more or there are real shortages.

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I remember him speaking of “the moral equivalent of war” in his cardigan. It was a depressing time. But then came Reagan.

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Originally Posted by LDAHL

I remember him speaking of “the moral equivalent of war” in his cardigan. It was a depressing time. But then came Reagan.

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And fracking, horizontal drilling and oil sand extraction which unlocked massive amount of oil reserves, oil surpluses, and freed us from total energy dependence from the mid-east. Fertilizer is a different issue.

I wonder if big oil in the US is relishing the new profit margins for the same amount of production?

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I remember him speaking of “the moral equivalent of war” in his cardigan. It was a depressing time. But then came Reagan

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Yeah, Reagan was about as depressing as could be. We went from a president who was totally focused on the plight of the common American, and then got Reagan, with his anti-union, welfare queen rhetoric, his collusion in Iran/Contra, Ollie North, Fawn Hall, and so on. From moral to - let's say LESS THAN moral. Terribly depressing, I agree.

NZ appears to be in increasingly bad shape. Australia, too.

Brand new technology has bailed us out of food shortages, a pandemic, and an energy crisis and may not have much to do with politics, although the recent cutbacks in research reduce the odds of bailing us out again.

I think of Reagan as the modern father of de-regulation, which may have some things to do with recent financial crisis and big oil monopolies and their political influences. He could ride a good horse, though.

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Originally Posted by Tradd

NZ appears to be in increasingly bad shape. Australia, too.

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Getting bad here in the UK, too.
Many rural areas are reliant on oil for heating. In some areas, according to a user on a TV bulletin, filling her tanks six weeks ago cost 750GBP. Earlier this week it was 1780 GBP, over double. The govt is saying they will prioritise getting aid to those users. It will still be cold in the Highlands and islands into June.

So ironic that the technologies that can buffer fossil fuel crises like this are the ones that Trump is shutting down.