Cutting back

It's a shame that it's taken a natural disaster for the issue of energy conservation to be pressed publicly, but now everybody's in on the act due to Katrina:

"As a major energy producer, Canada has the ability, and the obligation, to be a part of this important effort," Natural Resources Minister John Efford said in a release.

"Canadians are asked to exercise judgment in reducing the use of oil and gas at this time."...

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, which speaks for all of Canada's major oil and gas producers, said tight supply in hurricane Katrina's wake should be a "call to action for conservation."

Granted that the result for the moment is good, but this shouldn't merely be a momentary response. Hopefully it'll instead be an opportunity for people to learn some good habits which can carry over long after the U.S.' refining capacity is back to normal.