ECO-FRIENDLY
CARS AND TRUCKS
ECO-FRIENDLY
CARS AND TRUCKS
The American Council for anEnergy-Efficient Economy released the third edition of its pathbreakingconsumer guide, ACEEE's Green Book:The Environmental Guide to Cars & Trucks -- Model Year 2000.In a year that marks the first hybrid-electric vehicle to appearin the U.S. market, this timely book provides guidance for consumers whocare about the environment when shopping for a new vehicle.
Information is widely published on attributes like performance, styling,safety, and reliability. But "OnlyACEEE's Green Book providescomplete information on the key aspects of automotive environmental performance,"says co-author John DeCicco, Director of ACEEE's Transportation Program.The book provides a Green Score for every new passenger car, minivan, sportutility, and pickup truck sold in the United States. According to DeCicco,"By comparing Green Scores for the models they are considering, car buyerscan shop with the environment in mind."
ACEEE's Green Book: The EnvironmentalGuide to Cars & Trucks rates electric and alternatively fueledvehicles as well as gasoline and diesel vehicles, and provides advice abouthow to buy green when shopping for a new car or light truck. New this yearis the "Greener Choices 2000" list. "This new list highlights some of thecleanest and most fuel-efficient gasoline cars and trucks," states co-authorand ACEEE Research Assistant Jim Kliesch, "helping consumers identify optionsthat are both practical and environmentally sound."
Another addition for 2000 is a new chapter, "Green by Design." "Many consumerswill not only want to learn what's green, but why," notes DeCicco. "'Greenby Design' offers in-depth coverage of the Honda Insight hybrid electricvehicle along with other advances in automotive technology."
ACEEE's Green Book againidentifies the 12 "greenest" and 12 "meanest" vehicles in the model year.The publication rates vehicles according to tailpipe pollution and globalwarming emissions, as well as by pollution from auto factories and fuelproduction. Along with the summary Green Scores,ACEEE's Green Bookdetails each model's fuel economy, health impacts, annual fuelexpenses, and greenhouse gas emissions.
A key feature is the "Best of 2000," listing the least polluting models byvehicle class - subcompact, compact, mid-size, large cars, vans, pickups,and sport utilities. Overall, the most environmentally friendly vehiclesare powered by electricity or natural gas. However, in every size class,some gasoline vehicles are better than others. "Our 'Best of 2000' tablelists both alternative and conventional vehicles," states Kliesch, "Theseselections show that consumers have greener options throughout the market,including some of today's most popular models."
As air pollution continues to plague many parts of the country and as emissionsfrom fossil fuels - particularly the gasoline and diesel fuel burned by ourmotor vehicles - disrupt the earth's climate, "Choosing greener cars is moreimportant than ever," remarks DeCicco.
Many considerations go into buying a new car or light truck. You'll considerprice, styling, comfort, performance, safety, reliability, and of course,how well the vehicle will serve your needs. The decision comes down to costversus value: how much you are willing to pay for the features you want toget. But the costs of car use go beyond what's on the sticker and what you'llspend on fuel and repairs. There are hidden but very real environmental costs,due to adverse health impacts of air pollution, oil spills and fouling ofwater supplies, damage to habitats, and the growing risks of climate disruption.If you care about the future of our environment, then what you value goesbeyond performance or styling and the options packages featured in the showroom.
ACEEE's Green Book will help you choose a greener(cleaner and more fuel-efficient) vehicle, one that minimizes harm to theenvironment while meeting your transportation needs.
Car and truck pollution not only harms our health in the present, but alsocontributes to global warming, bringing greater problems in years to come.A watchword of environmentalism is the concept of "sustainability." An actionis sustainable if it serves our needs today without jeopardizing the abilityof future generations (our children and grandchildren) to meet their needs.The large amounts of energy consumed and pollution produced by cars and trucksare among the reasons our transportation system is not sustainable.
Climate Disruption and Global Warming Pollution
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the consumption of gasoline,diesel, and other fossil fuels are the principal cause of global warming,which brings health and economic risks from climate change.
Making motor vehicles much cleaner and more efficient is an important steptoward sustainable transportation. A large part of this task is up to automakers,but choosing a greener vehicle is a step you can take that will head us inthe right direction.
It is clear that automobiles-this book's general term for cars, pickup trucks,station wagons, vans, sport utilities, and other personal motor vehicles-areamong our largest causes of environmental damage. Environmental impacts startwhen automobiles are made, continue throughout their life on the road, anddon't end even when the vehicle is scrapped, since waste disposal createspollution, too.
A gallon of gasoline weighs just over six pounds. When burned, the carbon in it combines with oxygen from the air to produce about 19 pounds of CO2. But counting the energy that went into making and distributing the fuel, the total global warming impact equals 28 pounds of CO2 emissions per gallon.
Health Impacts of Car and Truck Pollution
Even the cleanest and most efficient vehicle on the market today still pollutesthe air and otherwise damages the environment. A number of air pollutantsare associated with automobiles:
Understanding the polluting effects of automobiles can help one appreciatethe importance of considering a vehicle's greenness (or lack of greenness)when it comes time to purchase one. More in-depth information on why cars and trucksaren't ever truly "green" is provided in ACEEE's Green Book Online.
A vehicles's greenness depends not only on its design, but also on how it is used. A car is greener when it's carrying two people rather than one and it's greener still with three. And it's greenest of all if left at home when there's a cleaner way to go: by foot or by bicycle, by bus or by train, and even by wire (as in telecommuting or videoconferencing). So, consider your opportunities to reduce car use when practical, by walking or biking for short trips, ridesharing, and combining several errands into one trip.
Our options for getting to work or school, shopping or recreation, conducting business, and visiting family or friends depend very much on where we live. Choosing where you live for its walkablility and convenience to work, school, or transit stations-what planners call location efficiency-is a key opportunity to reduce your need for driving.
You can save money by owing a smaller, economical car (or, in urban areas, even doing without one) and then renting a larger vehicle when you need to take a long trip or haul a large load. A smaller, more efficient car pollutes less and doesn't cost as much, particularly if you don't need a larger vehicle most of the time.
Written by: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent,non-profit research group dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a meansof protecting the environment and strengthening the economy.
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