How to Eliminate Dependance on Foreign Oil

In 2002, the United States produced 38% of the oil it used, and imported the remaining 62%. To eliminate the dependence on foreign oil, consumption must be reduced by 62%. Here are some simplified steps that can accomplish this:

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Exterior Latex Caulk
• LED light bulbs
• insulating drapes
• R60 insulation
• R20 insulation
• solar water heater
• solar space heater

1. Set your summer thermostat to 78F – NO INVESTMENT REQURED
2. Set you winter thermostat to 65F – NO INVESTMENT REQURED
3. Close the vents and close the curtains in unused rooms of your house – NO INVESTMENT REQUIRED
4. Drive 55 mph on the highway; accelerate slowly and coast to a stop whenever possible - few extra minutes can reduce your gasoline consumption by 20% or more – NO INVESTMENT REQUIRED
5. Ensure that your tires are properly inflated – NO INVESTMENT REQUIRED
6. Tune up you car. Replace the filters and change the oil – estimate cost $100
7. Caulk all windows and doors – estimate cost $100-$200
8. Replace incandescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs with affordable high efficiency Unity LED Light bulbs – estimate cost $200-$400 with a 2-3 year payback.
9. Add insulating drapes to windows and doors – estimate costs $100-$200 if you do it yourself and can pay back in 1-2 years
10. Install R60 insulation in you attic. Install R20 minimum in walls, such as the new low cost Omachron insulation. which can pay back in 2-3 years (R20 for 1000 square foot costs $399).
11. Install an integrated sized 25 square meter simple, low maintenance, integrated solar hot water and space heating array ($2,900 with a 2-3 year payback).

Tips & Warnings

• Although this is an oversimplified list, without technical details, it does represent a simple, viable, solution to our dependence on foreign oil. If we all did this in our homes, our businesses, and in our daily lives, we would not need foreign oil and our children would inherit a cleaner, healthier place to live.