The 3 important factors in doing anything worthwhile to save the planet are: Reduce, Reuse and/or Recycle.

But if the cost of gas bothers you, be happy you don’t live in Asmara, Eritrea. This African nation boasts the highest gas prices in the world — nearly $10/gallon. On the other hand, you could be living in Venezuela, where prices are as low as 6 cents. That’s really Cheap!

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Here’s a list of the places with the highest and lowest gas prices in the world, courtesy of the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS).

The World’s Highest Gas Prices:

1. Asmara, Eritrea — $9.59/gallon
2. Oslo, Norway — $7.41/gallon
3. Copenhagen, Denmark — $6.89/gallon
4. Hong Kong — $6.87/gallon
5. Monaco, Monte Carlo — $6.82/gallon

The World’s Lowest Gas Prices:

1. Caracas, Venezuela — 6 cents/gallon
2. Tehran, Iran — 32 cents/gallon
3. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — 45 cents/gallon
4. Kuwait, City, Kuwait — 85 cents/gallon
5. Cairo, Egypt — $1.17/gallon

So here we have a homogeneous product — pretty much the same in Caracas as it is in Asmara — ranging in price from 6 cents to nearly $10 a gallon. Why the big range? Looking at the list will offer the first hint: Most of the countries on the low-price list have lots of oil.

But another reason gas prices vary so widely is what the government does with gasoline. They control the price and/or consumption by loading on taxes, or in the case of Venezuela, subsidizing the price.

While the wild world of fossil fuel pricing is interesting, what gas costs in Asmara, Tehran and Oslo is ultimately only of interest to those who gas up there. What we’re interested in is paying less for gas in our own neighborhoods. How do we find the cheapest gas?

Use Your Smart Phone

If you have a smart phone, go to where you can download apps (such as the Apple App Store or the Android Market) and do a search for “gas prices.” You’ll discover several free apps that will help you find prices at nearby stations. Note, however, that most of these apps are self-reporting — they depend on other app users to send in prices. That leads to two potential problems: First, gas prices may be out of date or inaccurate. Second, there’s nothing that prevents the station owner from gaming the system by putting in a false low price to attract customers.

There are apps that don’t depend on user-supported prices. AAA’s TripTik iPhone App, for example, uses prices reported by the Oil Price Information Service and are derived from credit card transactions at more than 100,000 stations around the country, updated daily. The problem with this reporting method? Price can change more often than daily, and while 100,000 is a lot of stations to survey, it’s not all of them.
Use your computer

There are several websites that will help you find the cheapest gas in your area. A few examples, all of which allow you to search by zip code:

Diesel Fuel Quality and the Environment

From crude oil, there are a lot of products that can be produced.  These are gasoline, diesel, other distillates (heating oil), heavy fuel oil (residual), jet fuel, liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), and other products.  There are various grades or types of petroleum diesel.  The Number 2 type is the major source for motor diesel fuel utilized in the United States.  It is the same kind used for heating buildings and in the industry.

It has moderately low sulfur content, which is a main characteristic tested for diesel fuels.  In 2006, the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for diesel fuel sulfur content were implemented.  Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel which has a sulfur content of less than 15 parts per million (ppm) had to be sold in the United States, which in turn replaced most of the Low Sulfur Diesel (LSD) fuel.

Diesel engines can be found in just about all semi-trucks, delivery vehicles, buses, trains, ships, boats and barges, as well as farm, construction and military vehicles and vehicles.  Because of this extensive use, people have always been thinking of ways to make products that are safe for the environment.  Biodiesel falls under this category and is produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease.  Its name denotes that it is biodegradable and can reduce vehicle emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulates.

Diesel Fuel Production and Delivery

In the United States, most diesel fuel that is consumed is produced in their local refineries.  In addition, a small percentage of fuel is largely imported from Canada and the Virgin Islands.  From both local and imported crude oil, diesel fuel is manufactured by the local refineries and it is transported by pipeline from these refineries and ports to the terminals in close proximity to the main consuming areas.  Then it is put in tanker trucks for delivery to retail service stations.

Diesel Fuel Cost Components

Inclusive in the cost to manufacture and transport diesel fuel to the consumers are the costs of crude oil, refinery processing, marketing and distribution, and retail station operation.  The costs and profits of the refiners, marketers, distributors, and retail station owners are reflected in the retail pump price.  The proportional share of these cost components to the retail price varies over time and among the country’s regions.

The price at the pump also is inclusive of federal, state, and local taxes.  In other states, counties, and city governments levy additional taxes.  Local market conditions and other factors such as the site and the marketing strategy of the owner are reflected in the retail price as well.

 The components of diesel fuel prices can be broken down into the following (from highest to lowest percentage):  crude oil, refining, taxes, and distribution and marketing.  Knowing this information will give the consumers a clearer picture why the prices are pegged at such and why they fluctuate.

Elements of Worth

There are quite a few essential elements that conclude the worth of a gallon of diesel. Approximately sixty percent of the charge of diesel reflects the price of crude oil, which is raw material for diesel production. Crude oil is purchased from oil producing countries and consequently brought to refineries where the ultra-low sulfur diesel, in the midst of other petroleum products, is extracted. Given a barrel of crude, a refinery will be able to distill about one tenth of a barrel of diesel. Refining accounts for just about twenty percent of diesel fuel cost.

The residual elements of the rate of diesel fuel are government taxes and the expenditure of marketing and distribution. A ten percent excise tax is levied onto all fuel products that are manufactured in the state. Although foreign fuel avoids this, it is generally cheaper to get locally refined fuel as import taxes generally translate to higher unit price. Marketing and distribution only makes up five percent of total diesel fuel charge, but this can often be the most volatile issue affecting the value of diesel fuel.  

Origins of Increase

Essentially, the price of everything is reliant on supply and demand. If supply is low and demand is high, prices will escalate. If supply is abundant, the cost will stay stable, and may even reduce when demand wanes.

Crude oil supply is dependent on oil producing countries, so everything that disrupts their fabrication activities, like wars or economic embargoes, will make the price of both world crude and diesel up. Refining costs are normally pretty stable, but both local and foreign companies vie for refined fuel. If the demand of foreign countries for the diesel produced by local refineries increases, this can eventually result in elevated fuel costs.

The mainly unsteady factor that affects diesel fuel is undoubtedly local marketing and distribution. Diesel fuel is in such high and steady demand that fuel stockpiles are usually pretty shallow. This means that if there is an abrupt point in fuel consumption, the warehoused supply will not be sufficient and this will force the price of fuel up. Another factor is distance; consumers close to refineries likely to pay fewer because they pass up transportation costs. Local competition also plays a significant role in regulating fuel prices.

Control Stems from Understanding

World supply and demand, international politics, economic pressures, all of these act interrelated roles in the price of fuel. While they seem beyond the comprehension of the non-economist layman, it all really boils down to supply and demand, and this is somewhat anyone can recognize. Saving fuel and lowering consumption is not only good for the environment; it decreases demand, and finally, cost. Programs which encourage peace and goodwill among nations do not simply make a better world; they result in less disturbance of supply lines, and again, decrease fuel costs.

The factors that influence diesel fuel prices seem complex, but an understanding of the indispensable principles can authorize the individual consumer. Of course, it would seem that doing the right thing really is the right thing to do.

Being an extremely complex fuel, diesel fuel’s chemical formation changes from the time it leaves the processing plant to the time it is pumped into holding tanks and fuel station to the time it gets pumped into the vehicle.  Oxidization and structural changes take place in the fuel molecules.  The energy per unit volume of the fuel can modify through this stage, and this is what will cause your engine to have bad performance.

To combat the effects of fuel degradation and boost the fuel’s cetane value (discussed in detail below), the accurate type and ratio of fuel additives have to be used.  With a myriad of benefits, the engine will be proficient to get hold of more power from a gallon of fuel.

Diesel fuel has more energy per gallon as compared to gasoline.  The three types of diesel fuel are 1D, 2D, and a blend of the two.  The lighter grade is 1D, and it offers less energy than 2D.  It is more usually used to lessen, if not eliminate, the gelling of fuel through cold winter climates; some people mix it with 2D.

The cetane rating denotes the diesel fuel’s ignition worth.  The higher the rating, the easier the fuel burns evenly and the more power is produced.  The regular diesel fuel is at the 40-cetane level.  Large diesel trucks and diesel pickup trucks favor a cetane rating in the 45- to 50- level; this is considered as the premium diesel.  However, this is not a common categorization—that is, the state’s regulations will utter at which cetane rating is diesel fuel considered premium.

You should verify with the fuel station with regard to the cetane ratings of the fuel they are selling.  The higher the cetane rating, the better the drivability as well as reduced emissions.  Furthermore, the driver of the vehicle can believe the change in power (for the better). 

Choosing the best diesel fuel additive can promise you that the diesel fuel will carry out at its maximum because of its finest quality.  Here are some of the effects of a high-quality diesel fuel additive:

- Reduces Cylinder Wear: 

It neutralizes acids through combustion.  It minimizes the wear of the acidic cylinder and it reduces the rate of engine oil depletion; thus, maintaining the quality of the engine oil for better protection.

- Minimizes Soot Loading: 

It cleans fuel injectors and piston rings for enhanced combustion and sealing.  This reduces soot loading, controls soot-related wear, and increases engine oil viscosity.

- Stabilizes Fuel: 

Fuel degradation increases deposits, which can encourage the plugging of filter.  The additive improves oxidation and thermal stability of the diesel fuel.

- Improves Fuel Economy: 

It cleans dirty injectors as it improves the acceleration and restores horsepower, and in the long run it will boost performance.

- Improves Water Tolerance: 

An alcohol-free additive protects fuel systems against water contamination, helping to avert emulsions.  It also protects the metal against rust.

To battle the increasing diesel fuel prices, you can mull over using a diesel fuel additive and face the change in your expenses as well as the drivability of your vehicle.

What public do not comprehend is that the pattern shifts.  Throughout the summer, people are likely to use their vehicles for vacations; this in turn increases the cost of gasoline.  At some point in the winter, people lean to settle at home and produce a high demand for heating oil; this in turn increases the price of diesel fuel.  The correlation between heating oil and diesel is that they are parallel fuel and that the price of the heating oil tends to set a floor for diesel.

The widening spread flanked by the prices of diesel fuel and gasoline is partially due to the lull in the demand for gasoline, which can be attributed to exorbitant prices and soft economy.  If people would just amplify their consumption as rapidly as before, then the prices of gasoline would be higher.  In return, the spread between the prices of diesel fuel and gasoline will not be as wide as it is now.

Increasing Global Demand

There is an increasing demand for diesel fuel globally—that is, in the United States, Europe, China, and India.  In Europe, more vehicles with diesel engines were sold in the past few years.  More than 50 percent of new registrations for 2007 were diesel-consuming vehicles.  In India, the similar trend applies:  the numbers of new vehicles sold have doubled in five years, and 30 percent of which is diesel-powered.  This proportion is projected to reach 50 percent by 2010.  In China, the increasing demand for diesel fuel is in direct proportion with its economy.  With them hosting the Olympics plus the earthquake that hit them recently, higher demand for diesel fuel is foreseen to pass up interruptions and to run heavy equipment and emergency generators.

Environmental Restrictions

The move to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in the United States is a continuing project since 2006.  Its goal is to put on this standard to all on-highway diesel fuel by December 2010.  There are too standards for off-highway diesel fuel such as fuel for generators, building machinery, and marine use.  This radical change is a pricey process in total as it will target the production of all diesel fuel, which in turn has affected the selling price of diesel fuel.  A projection has it that this dear process would need refiners to put in a large amount of money, and this will make them boost the prices of diesel fuel between 2007 and 2011.  In addition, a production bottleneck will almost certainly result in higher price spikes.

Higher Federal Taxes

The tax for diesel fuel is higher than the tax for gasoline.  And of course, the higher the tax, the higher will be the price at the pump.  This has been the drift for several years, and this is the clarification why diesel has sold for an average of 1.3 percent more than gasoline over a specific period of time.

There are further factors affecting diesel fuel prices.  Having a thoughtful how the pricing works will help you find ways to go about the soaring prices.  And with this knowledge, you can have a grasp of the trends and generate your own projection to aid your budget planning.

Then, let’s recognize that the supply of such fuels are finite; that additions to reserves of these products may have paused years ago and many believe we have reached or have passed the tipping point wherein new discoveries and production are higher each year.

How then, to persuade energy “consumers,” which in this case includes business and government, to properly value the energy product, which in view of steadily decreasing supplies, must be relegated to the “highest value usage?”

In my opinion, and in the opinion of energy economists, a straightforward “energy tax” on the different types of energy, with the proceeds directed at only alternative energy projects which, with technological support can stand on their own economically, or with minimal use of subsidy from the carbon tax. Nuclear, wind, solar, water all fill this definition.

Well-designed mass transit, underground primarily, could easily help reduce the need for the types of road building projects that benefit a class of consumers-drivers, both commercial and personal, at the expense  of others.

The fossil fuel tax must be high enough to generate the funds necessary to complete ten percent of the infrastructure each year, so that at the end of ten/fifteen years there is a working, viable “neutral consumption compared to base year 2009″ Program, and potentially substantially lowered consumption of fossil energy at the same time in the U.S. And, world wide if other major industrialized nations adopt a similar approach.    It is helpful to point out that per capita energy consumption is highest in the U.S. and lower almost everywhere else, primarily because other countries instituted energy taxes, primarily on transportation fuels, some years ago, effectively reducing transportation consumption substantially, as well as supporting and subsidizing alternative power generation sources, France, for instance, generates almost eighty percent of it’s power generation from nuclear power plants, Japan, Korea, Germany, and others have already recognized the rationality of this approach and are taking more steps every day to increase alternative energy inputs in their systems.

If we adopt the direct taxing of energy at the distribution point approach, we can expect some need for energy credits on behalf of consumers; we should offer no such credits to business, institutional, and industrial users, any costs absorbed by them will be quickly reflected in retail and wholesale prices, and will encourage mightily their demonstrated ability to reduce cost components of their production and distribution processes.

If a well-designed plan is instituted we can expect reasonable progress towards the ten/fifteen year plan. There will be mistakes, to be sure; there will be delays for certain, but if the overall plan for mass transportation, alternative power generation, and transportation efficiencies are adopted and rigorously managed, we can expect great results.

It’s worth while to mention here the potential for “Cloud Commuting” and Cloud Education” and other Cloud” infrastructure processes promise to save up to fifty percent of the time and energy now spent driving and commuting to work; the endless hours of transportation and horrible schedules for children that would be alleviated by cloud education, and so much more. A useful portion of the energy tax could easily help develop a whole new generation of workers and those being educated, to the degree that         Work as we now view it will be forever changed, for the better. Education would become truly that, the ability to think and organize, plan and execute.

Once the “facts” are learned, then they provide the framework for the thinking process, which mentoring through Cloud could easily provide.

Learn more here: Cloud Computing and the Economy.

All in all, direct taxing of energy most efficiently provides the rationale for reduced consumption and increased production of non-polluting alternatives through the proper use of the revenues generated.

          62% of the worlds energy comes from oil and coal, such a high percentage that we all bought into. Think about this, Solar energy was discovered in the 1800’s and in 200 years we have not yet begun to really focus on the radiant energy we all take for granted each day. Solar cells are increasingly becoming cost efficient, and typically pay for themselves after a few years, when do we expect oil or coal resources to pay for itself? If you own a oil or fuel company it already has, for the rest of us it never will.

          The price of oil has tripled since the begining of 2002, and yet there has been no conversions to cost effecient energy. We have all sat around and watched each year as oil companies annually post Billion dollar profits. A Billion dollars? would it have been to much to ask to shave some profits and put it into price reductions? Dont most major companies buy into their own stock, it’s relatively the same idea, Shave 2% profits and increase sales 5%. You make the same amount of money, and save the rest of us from selling our skins to get to work, and give up our money to do so?

          Its not all about oil companies. Motor companies have been selling off twin models of popular U.S cars to Europeans for years, what does this have to do with the crisis? Well the same car you may be driving would get about 12 miles a gallon more if it were being sold to Europe. Do the research. In fact, the whole crisis has been the fault of our greedy, ride the lightning style, blissful ignorance. The first self propelled vehicle was invented in 1769! It may seem as if we have come a long way, but we haven’t. In the 1970’s most cars got 15 MPG. nearly 40 years later we have only doubled that. http://www.pewfuelefficiency.org/docs/cafe_history.pdf

         Sounds great huh? That’s terrible numbers. Do you know that there was a car made that got a rough MPG of about 9,000? That’s right, go around the world on about 3 gallons. They say it was ugly, they say it was expensive, they say it wasn’t worth it. I dont know about you, but to me it sounds worth it. People we have been kept in 20′ level MPG for a reason: Money.  The work could have been done, it wasn’t, the research and work could have been achieved, but it wasn’t. We could have all been driving ten times what we do now and used 75% less oil. Demand would have been so low, Gas would cost about 37 cents a gallon. And the same greedy people making billions would have quickly looked for other forms of energy to make money, there would be no Energy monopoly, and we would all be living better.

          So, the energy crisis is now upon us, and we are all to blame. You bought into it, I bought into it. the crisis is Superficial.

Cars can change their ways if they don’t we will lose our fossil fuels and Ozone Layer. First,cars can change their fuel type instead of just using gasoline. One reason is that cars could use up all our fossil fuels. Another reason is that cars can run on anything we design it to run on. Second, cars run on things that are bad for the Ozone Layer like gasoline and oil. The reason is that gasoline is made from oil and we also use oil in cars, which adds to global warming and Ozone Layer gaps. Also, cars use fossil fuels which could run out and be gone for millions of years. Last, cars are bad for the Earth and our environment. Since cars use fuel that release gases like carbon dioxide that are bad for the Ozone Layer. Without the Ozone we could die and get cancer from the suns rays like the UV ray. Also, cars can kill plants and trees by needing more roads to drive on we could save trees by making roads across them or around so we can save trees for oxygen.

Cars can be a burden to our society or be helpful to the Earth. Cars can change their whole fuel output to things that don’t pollute as much as gasoline. Also cars use gasoline and oil which are fossil fuels so they won’t be available for millions of years if they run out. They also take a lot of space and make people make more roads for them which kills trees. In conclusion, cars right now are bad but, we can do something to change them.

It is well within your ability to choose an efficient car: When you decide to purchase your car, choose the least-polluting, most efficient car that fulfills your requirements. You should know that a car that gets 20 miles per gallon will emit about 50 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, while a car getting 40 mpg will emit half that quantity. Your efficient car may be a hybrid combining a gasoline engine with electric motors, or a wagon in place of an SUV. Given the average lifetime of an American car, a 40-mpg car will save about $3,000 in fuel costs compared with a 20-mpg car, so compare fuel economy performance before you make your purchase.

For increasing fuel efficiency, get your engine tuned up and keep your tires inflated. Did you know that if all Americans kept their tires properly inflated, gasoline use throughout the United States would come down 2 percent? A tune-up could boost your miles per gallon in the range of 4 to 40 percent; a new air filter could get you 10 percent more miles per gallon. Another important way of fighting global warming is driving less and burning less fuel. Whenever possible, try to choose alternatives to driving (public transit, biking, walking, carpooling), and bundle your errands together so that you need to make fewer trips.

You can also help the cause against global warming by buying energy-efficient appliances. Even if you have to spend a little more up front, you can still save a lot on electricity, and simultaneously reduce pollution produced by power plants. Remember that refrigerators are the biggest consumers of electricity in the home. So if you upgrade it, you can save a lot of energy for your household. If you replace your light bulbs with a little costlier but more durable compact fluorescent bulbs, you cut down your electricity bill by nearly $15 a year, and by more than $60 during its life. What is important is that it also keeps half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air. For a very small investment on your house, you can cut your heating and cooling expenses and reduce the burning of fossil fuels.

Opt for renewable energy by picking a company that generates at least half its power from wind, solar energy and other clean sources. Also purchase clean energy certificates. Another way to reduce global warming pollution is to buy “wind certificates” or “green tags,” which represent clean power you can add to the nation’s energy grid in place of electricity from fossil fuels.