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Going Greener With Your Next Car
by Jerry Edgerton
If you're in the market for a new car, you're probably considering options such as a 6-disc CD changer, Navigation System or Blue Tooth Phone System. How about the option of a vehicle that does the least damage to the environment and minimizes the impact on global warming? Of course, your choice of car alone will not reverse the trend toward global warming and climate change. But as the environmental group Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, Mass., points out, motor vehicles account for nearly 25% of all U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide—the major greenhouse gas culprit in global warming. So choosing the greenest vehicle possible is a step toward reducing that impact on the planet.If you look at EPA ratings, you can see which of the cars, vans, pickups, or SUVs you're considering add least to your hometown air pollution as well as have the least impact on global warming. The agency gives scores of one to 10 (best) in two categories:
- Tailpipe emissions of pollutants that contribute to smog and other regular air pollution, and
- Emissions of carbon dioxide—as a measure of the impact on global warming.
Vehicles with a combined score of 13 or more (out of a possible 20) get a SmartWay designation. Very clean vehicles with a combined score of 18 or more are called SmartWay Elite. But even among cars that don't get the top ratings, you can see which are best of direct competitors. And there's a bonus: Cars with lower carbon dioxide emissions generally have higher gas mileage and so will cost you less to drive. Other Web sites such as Yahoo autos and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy also give you lists of the greenest cars based on scores of one to 100, where 100 is best. In trying to think green for your next car, here are some issues to consider:
Look hard at how you use your vehicle
If you bought a big sport utility vehicle to tow a boat or trailer you no longer own, consider a smaller vehicle. If hauling kids and their friends is a major consideration, look at a minivan, a less-thirsty, greener choice than most big SUVs. If you drive a big, full-size sedan because that's what you've always done, consider whether a smaller, more efficient sedan would work just as well. "To go greener, people have to consider their actual automotive needs instead of their wants," says Dan Edmunds of Edmunds.com, Santa Monica, Calif.
Look for the highest gas mileage you can in a vehicle that meets your needs and your budget.
Choose the greenest in your category
Once you've decided what kind of vehicle will haul the people or things you need to transport, look for the top-rated choices. For instance, if you're looking for a compact pickup, the EPA site gives the SmartWay designation to the Ford Ranger and GMC Canyon. But even if the vehicles you're interested in don't show up in the EPA or other top ratings, there's another simple way to make a green choice. John DeCicco, automotive expert for the group Environmental Defense, New York, notes that better gas mileage translates to lower emission of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. So, whether you're buying a new or used car, he advises: "Look for the highest gas mileage you can in a vehicle that meets your needs and your budget."
Cars with lower carbon dioxide emissions generally have higher mileage and will cost less to drive.
Don't assume a hybrid is the only answer
Though gas-electric hybrids top the mileage and green rating lists in most categories, you can find other green choices as well. That can be an advantage because hybrids are in short supply in some areas, and because nonhybrids tend to cost less. For instance, among compact SUVs, instead of a Ford Escape Hybrid (list price $25,655 before options) you might get a standard-engine Subaru Forester 2.5X model with a list price of $21,955. Among midsize sedans, instead of a Toyota Camry hybrid ($25,200), you might get a Hyundai Elantra SE ($17,225).Once you've found the perfect vehicle for you and your family, look to your credit union for competitive rates and terms. With a little research, you'll be driving off with a vehicle that's not only friendly on the environment, but friendly on your wallet.
Published April 7, 2008
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