Practice Energy Saving Today

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From 1973-1974, an oil embargo was enforced by the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) on the United States. The embargo was sparked by the Yom Kippur War that occurred in October, 1973, when Israel was attacked unexpectedly on their holy day, Yom Kippur, by the combined forces of Egypt and Syria. While the Soviet Union helped supply Egypt and Syria with more supplies, the United States stepped in to help Israel. In retaliation, OAPEC placed an embargo on the United States, causing the price of oil to quadruple and leading to a gas shortage and energy crisis throughout America. 

As a result, there was a push by President Nixon's administration to conserve heat and fuel sources throughout American homes, with initiatives like Project Independence. In addition, Nixon’s Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, proposed the creation of the International Energy Agency as a way to secure the supply of oil from other countries; this agency has since evolved to help create and promote clean energy planning in other countries. 

While the embargo only lasted for a year, the energy saving ideology it sparked had long lasting effects on the United States. Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter continued promoting energy-saving measures; during his presidency Carter created the Energy department that would address the impact energy and fuel had on the environment and the American people.