Clark Howard's Tips

August 12, 2008

There's good news and bad news on the energy price front. On one hand, the price of crude oil continues to drop. On the other hand, Americans have relatively short memories!

Edmunds.com reports that people have already stopped looking at small cars and are looking at larger vehicles again now that gas prices have eased up a bit. Didn't they learn anything from the pain at the pump?!

Meanwhile, a recent ABC News poll shows that two-thirds of people of all political persuasions favor offshore drilling. But if you think drilling is the "be all, end all" solution, well, Clark begs to differ. He's not opposed to it, but it does need to be part of a larger picture.

The same poll shows that less than 50% of people are in favor of opening new nuclear power plants. Perhaps the Iran syndrome -- where the pretense of peaceful nuclear policy comes with the threat of more belligerent uses -- has scared people off nuclear energy in our country.

Clark is also a fan of solar and wind power. He wouldn't be on radio if he wasn't into hot air, right?

In related news, the penny-pincher was heartened to read that many Americans are now buying Energy Star washers when it comes time to replace the old appliance. Several weeks ago, Clark even told you about a new waterless washing machine. Sound strange to you? The best solutions are often "outside of the box."

Consumer advice courtesy of