The impact of the cost of oil on an average household

Calculation to estimate what it costs for an average household, the increase in the price of the barrel: the average household is represented by a case I know well: 4 persons, small single-family house, 25'000 km per year by car and oil heating. Even though it may not be average at the statistical level of the term, it must be representative enough to what is energy consumption. I determined 4 loads main impacted by the increase in the price of oil:

• The heating and hot water: for me, so the oil.
• Gasoline for the car
• The rest of pure energy, IE electricity for my case
• The increase in the cost of living outside of point above. The most difficult to estimate.

Let's take these points one by one:

1. Oil: take a consumption of approximately 2000 litres per year for heating and hot water: with passage of FRS. 80 to 130 francs per 100 litres in a year, or 50 Frs, there are 50 x 20 = 1000 francs a year.
2. Gasoline for the cars: 25'000 km per year in all, with cars that consume on average 7.5 litres per 100 km, it's 1875 litres of gasoline per year. Considering that gasoline has increased to 50 cents in a year (which is the case for diesel) (for the unleaded I don't remember), it makes us more than 900 francs a year and more.
3. Electricity: read a few days he had to rely on 20% increase in electricity rates.  20% of 700 francs for my part. Let's say 150 francs per year: it is less important than what I imagined.
4. The increase in the cost of living: here, it is very difficult to estimate the impact. Firstly because – that the above already enter into the calculation of inflation, and on the other hand because inflation is also due to other settings… So very empirically, I considered that for current expenditures (2000 francs per month, 24'000 frs per year), 2% inflation is due to oil. 2% of 24'000 Frs, is about 500 annual Frs.

So here go us: 1000 + 900 + 150 + 500, makes 2550 francs annually. More than 200 francs a month. Incompressible, in any case if it does not change its habits. 200 francs per month, everyone won't be able to take easily: inevitably, we have to change his ways, as it's not over, maybe, this increase. The situation however has the merit of raising awareness (well I hope…) to the fact that energy has a cost, and that oil reserves are not inexhaustible. Now another exercise: how to lower these costs?

1. Lower consumption of fuel oil? Heat less? The syklop are already attentive to this point. 10% reduction target.
2. Without a car? Logistically very difficult in the case of the syklop: not big children too far from their homes to walk, 2 adults who work far away from the other, public transport very penalizing.  And, in a strictly financial goal, public transport would not be a big saving.
3. Consume less electricity? -25% in 2 years, we won't be able to do much better.
4. Consume less short? Yes, maybe, but there, too, count 5%…

Conclusion: Significant potential savings, we have to get used to. Fnale Note: these calculations are made with only the wallet as a parameter: there are also other elements to take into account, as for example the optimization of household Co2 emissions, in a sustainable development approach. But it costs rather than it brings: change of heating system, purchase new more fuel-efficient vehicles, etc. Everyone cannot see it.