Back to the future

by Sharon Higa | July 27, 2022

During the 1970s energy crisis, a lot of us wondered if it would happen again. Here we are now, facing astronomical gas prices and higher electricity costs, that it’s starting to feel like déjà vu. Having lived through that period as a kid, it certainly had an impact on me. Once in a while, a look back at how we conserved energy in the past may help us make wise choices today.

In 1974, a law was passed making the national highway speed limit 55 mph to force drivers to conserve gas. While there were protests — who can hear Sammy Hagar’s “I Can’t Drive 55”? — it did help reduce traffic fatalities. Gas consumption was reduced by about 0.2% to 1.0% partly because of so much noncompliance. The law was repealed in 1995 returning authority to the states to set speed limits.

While Hawaii’s speed limits range between 15–25 mph (school zone and residential) up to 55–60 mph highway, today’s cars have better fuel economy features and, if you haven’t switched yet to an all-electric vehicle, you can still get the most out of every gallon of gas:

• Maintain the right tire pressure and wheel alignment
• Reduce the amount of weight in your car, e.g., store the golf clubs at home until you need them
• Keep an even speed on roadways or use the cruise control feature
• Plan your route so you can tackle multiple errands at one time. For example, in one trip to Manoa Marketplace, I’ll drop by the farmer’s market, pharmacy, post office, bakery, grocery store, bank ATM and pick up lunch at one of the many restaurants
• For short (non-highway) trips, turn off the a/c and roll down the windows or use the eco feature on newer vehicles
• Keep up vehicle maintenance checks for oil changes, air filter replacements and tire rotations
• Choose the eco or normal mode for driving rather than “sport” mode which burns gas quickly
• Bike, walk or carpool when you can

I had to laugh when I learned that some people in the ’70s used to turn off their cars and coast down hills to save gas (please don’t do this!). However, today’s cars actually do have a feature that conserves gas when the car is idling at a stop, and it feels almost like the car is shutting down. I’ll be honest, this feature still freaks me out a bit.

It may seem silly, but one thing I also do is fill up the gas tank when the gauge dips below half, a residual effect from waiting in long gas lines at the service station during the ’70s. Not only does it help manage the shock of today’s gas prices, but I also feel a measure of safety knowing the tank is nowhere near empty.

Besides conserving gas, electricity use was a luxury in my parent’s ’70s household. “Turn off the light when you leave the room!” was a constant reminder, even if my little hands could barely reach the switch. “Turn off the tv if you’re not watching it,” was another admonishment because that switch, I could reach. While we weren’t frugal enough to do homework by candlelight, that was the 1870s I’m sure, the goal was always to get it done before the sun went down.

Today, energy-saving features such as motion-sensor lighting, high-efficient LED bulbs, virtual assistants (e.g., Alexa, Google Home), smart devices and ENERGY STAR® televisions and appliances can help households manage electricity use. But it never hurts to turn off lights in rooms that aren’t in use or to switch off a tv that no one is watching.

Good habits should never change, especially when it comes to using electricity wisely, and it’s worth passing on to the next generation.

Sharon Higa is a senior communications consultant at Hawaiian Electric Company.