Americans face calls to cut their energy usage as Iran war drags on
As oil prices surge, some experts are urging consumers to take energy-conserving steps like working from home or driving less.
Updated on: March 26, 2026 / 12:16 PM EDT / CBS News
Cutting oil consumption may help combat soaring energy prices caused by the Iran war , but convincing Americans to burn less gasoline could prove difficult, according to economists.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) last week released a list of energy-conserving measures for consumers, including working from home, driving more slowly and carpooling. Because two-thirds of oil is consumed by vehicles, many of its suggestions relate to driving less, improving fuel economy or using public transportation.
"Supply-side measures alone cannot fully offset the scale of the disruption," the IEA wrote in a March 20 report. "Addressing demand is a critical and immediate tool to reduce pressure on consumers."
The recommendations may have a familiar ring to Americans who experienced the 1970s oil crisis , when an embargo by Middle East producers caused gas prices to surge and prompted many U.S. workers to carpool to save money. But convincing people to change their habits can be difficult — especially in the U.S., where public transportation is unavailable in many regions and electric vehicles remain generally pricier than fuel-powered cars.
The Strait of Hormuz , a narrow waterway in the Persian Gulf that carries roughly 20% of the world's oil, remains blocked to most tankers. Unless the U.S. brokers a diplomatic agreement with Iran ending the war, global oil supply will be depleted for months, according to many experts.