# To Cecil et al--Internet & Gasoline Usage

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-cecil-et-al-internet-gasoline-usage/631831>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 18, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-cecil-et-al-internet-gasoline-usage/631831 "2012-08-18T00:24:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-cecil-et-al-internet-gasoline-usage/631831/1 "2012-08-18T00:24:47Z")

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To what degree has the existence of the Internet reduced gas usage on errands?

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-cecil-et-al-internet-gasoline-usage/631831/2 "2012-08-18T00:33:10Z")

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Interesting question. Pending actual answers, let me offer anecdotal data.

My office is 110 miles from my house. When I go to the office I burn between 4.5 and 5 gallons on the round-trip. I telecommute three days a week, so the Internet saves me approximately 60 gallons of fuel per month. With parking, and my tendency to buy lunch when I’m at the office, each telecommuting day saves me about $150/month.

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-cecil-et-al-internet-gasoline-usage/631831/3 "2012-08-18T12:04:57Z")

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Good, but I was thinking about shopping, going to the library for information, etc.

Not specifically telecommuting, although it certainly is relevant.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-cecil-et-al-internet-gasoline-usage/631831/4 "2012-08-18T15:38:51Z")

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You’d have to do a regression analysis to try to separate out the effects of computer-driven use from the other known factors, like the price of gas and the effects of the Recession. And you’d have to distinguish between the times that a computer saved gas, like internet shopping, and caused the use of gas, like discovering new restaurants or shops. And even internet shopping has increased the use of gas for delivery trucks by a sizable amount.

I’d bet 100 bucks that it couldn’t be done and 1000 bucks that I wouldn’t believe the study if I found one.

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**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-cecil-et-al-internet-gasoline-usage/631831/5 "2012-08-18T16:27:29Z")

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Because of the internet I no longer go to the mall. So I figure I save about $5 a month.