UCS: Join the Receipt Revolution
by Union of Concerned Scientists on 09.18.06
What do you normally do with your receipt from the gas station? If you get one at all, you probably wind up throwing it away. Instead of tossing that receipt, turn it into a powerful statement for more fuel-efficient autos.
We’re asking people in the USA to send their latest gas receipt to their Senators so their elected representatives can see what high gas prices do to voters’ paychecks.
It’s easier than dumping tea into the Boston Harbor. Your receipt, and your voice, can help channel Congress’ sensitivity over high gas prices into the real solutions we need to burn less gas, use less oil, and dramatically reduce global warming pollution.
Check out an example from Scott Nathanson, the National Field Organizer for UCS’s Clean Vehicles program, comparing a receipt from his family’s station wagon and their other car, a hybrid Prius.
Head to our action center to find out the details. And, please take the opportunity to spread the word.
The average American spends almost $2,000 each year on gasoline. According to an August ABC poll, 94 percent of American are dissatisfied with the price of gas, and 44 percent are more than just annoyed — they're angry about it. No matter how you feel personally about gas prices, this is the perfect time to send our Senators a visceral, resounding message that we want more fuel-efficient choices before they head home for Election Day.
The average fuel economy of American automobiles has stagnated for over 20 years, despite advances in vehicle technology that could already be cost-effectively providing American drivers with fuel-efficient cars, pickups, minivans, and SUVs. And even though gas prices have dropped from their summer peak, there is no doubt Congress is still very sensitive to this issue. After all, the next price hike is only one driving season, one hurricane, or one busted pipeline away.
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Interesting.
I'd like to be the first Brit to whine on about this though... the second reciept for 14 gallons... here in the UK that quantity of gas would cost $86.71 !! With around 75% of that going straight to our wonderful government in tax!
(( 14 US Gallons = 52.99 litres @ 1.63 US Dollars per litre! And gas here is at a yearly low so far, until last week it was 1.82 US Dollar per litre!))
Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I've been forgoing the reciept for quite some time both for convenience and the saving paper bit too. Sounds like a plan, I guess, but maybe we could just log all our information electronically and email it to our senators/reps. That just seems easier to me and I'm all about being lazy.
In this context it would be nice to give some attention to the 10 year aniversery of the Greenpeace SMILE. The concept car that has a higher fuel efficiency than the most advanced hybrid today.
See: http://archive.greenpeace.org/climate/smile/
We should include the kind of car we're driving on the receipt, too.
Treehuggers drive cars?
Am I supposed to send in my reciepts too? What am I supposed to say, "Boohoo, it cost me $32.22 to go 631 miles?" I don't see that helping.
I'd happily pay more at the pump if it means that it encourages people to look into alternative fuel sources and the development of more efficient transportation. a little pain at the pump now will hopefully result in a better world tomorrow.
Has anyone considered the amount of that high cost fuel that will be burned delivering these?
Maybe we should send an electronic copy instead.
Ah Kathleen is finally someone who gets it. Many people complain about gas prices but if you look how far that money takes you it's not a bad deal. Plus if that was a commute to work it's a small expense to many.
Ok but even better take public transit when you can and don't spend the gas moeny. I wish I could take transit to my job but I can't. :-(
I think it's a terrible idea. The higher the price of gas the less people will drive! Even though it sucks for my wallet I think high prices are GREAT! Keep climbing. I would rather it be higher tax rather than making the Oil companies rich. It woudl be easy to pay for our schools with a gas tax insted of cutting down old growth trees!
I’d have to say, I’m for the higher prices too. Bedsides, Congress has moved on. The prices have dipped a bit, so they are back screaming how we’re all going to die if we don’t vote Republican.
While I agree that fuel efficient cars (and smartly designed cities) are a wonderful thing to advocate, I'm not convinced that sending our gas receipts to our legislators is anything more than failing to own up to our own decisions about how we get around. Certainly some of us do need vehicles to travel long distances to work, but if gas prices are the issue, I wonder how much money we could save by shedding our excuses for not utilizing alternatives that already exist, like public transit, carpooling, etc, or living closer to our workplaces?
Gas prices are not too high, cars are too inefficient!
I agree with Sheila, people should take some responsibility for their own actions and purchases. Want better gas mileage? Buy a car that gets better gas mileage. Or, even better, ride a bike. You think you live too far away from work to bike? Boo freaking hoo... I'm biking over 150 miles to visit my brother on Friday. Saying "I can't" is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Andrew
PS: This form doesn't remember my personal information, which can be a little annoying.
Sheila it would be great if it was posible to live closer to my work. My wife and I both have great jobs but they's 35 miles between them and so we had to choose to live close to one of them. Some would say I should quit my job and find one close to home but I'm not willing to do that.
Hi everyone, Scott Nathanson here from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Sorry for the delay in putting in the UCS 2 cents on this discussion. We received a number of responses akin to Pieter and Ed talking about how gas prices should be higher. Our point is that no matter OUR opinion of gas prices, or what we personally drive (or don't drive)--more fuel efficient vehicle choices is of benefit to everyone, and the automakers could be using technologies they already have to cost-effectively make autos in all classes more fuel efficient.
So the point is not that that we should want gas prices to go up or down, but to take advantage of the sensitivity our legislators have to the issue and use it as a tool to send a clear message for better fuel-effeciency--a goal I hope we can all agree on.
As for Kathleen's question about why send in a receipt if you have a hybrid or other fuel efficient car. Check out that .pdf of my letter above--has a good idea for how you can talk about how you can make your personal choice for better fuel efficiency (akin to what Andrew is talking about) into a statement that that automakers could help more consumers do what you did by simply making more of their models more efficient. That's something they can, and should be doing.