he most effective way to reduce greenhouse emissions and resist
the economics of fossil fuels is to stop driving. Even after
taking into account alternate transportation, for most people
giving up their car would mean saving thousands of dollars per
year.
AROUND TOWN: I HAVE A CAR
However, if you already own a car you think is essential for
commute or travel, then take the initiative to drive responsibly.
Though juggling work, family, and other commitments while keeping
the environment in mind may take a little getting used to, there
are some steps you can take that do not make driving any less
convenient.
Take
the pledge to base your insurance on when you drive,
and how far how fast. Belonging to a program like this might
persuade you to avoid driving during rush hour, or opt for public
transportation. Progressive Insurance did a test run of a PAYD
program in Texas in 1999, but its success has not sufficed to
alter insurance policies. Tell insurance companies you are ready
to be held accountable for your driving habits! How it might
work? Currently the proposal entails the insurance company using
a Global Positioning System to track and report your driving
patterns. The company uses the data to calculate your insurance
premium. Certainly this method raises flags among privacy advocates,
but it is worth considering.
Keep car tires inflated. Cars will get more miles per gallon
(and last longer) when they are kept at the correct pressure.
You can find your car's recommended tire pressure on a label
inside the car (check the doorjambs or on the inside of the
glove compartment).
Letting your car sit idle wastes gas. If you plan to wait more
than thirty seconds before moving, it is (contrary to popular
belief) more fuel-efficient to shut off the engine and restart
it later.
Some of us chose diesel engines because diesel gets better gas
mileage, despite the fact that diesel emits more toxins into
the air than does gasoline. However, by using biodiesel these
same cars can surpass some of the most energy-efficient of gasoline-engine
models. As stated in Grist Magazine, "Any decent biodiesel booster
will proudly mention that Rudolph Diesel initially designed
his engine to run on peanut and other vegetable oils."
According to the National Biodiesel Board, "biodiesel is the
only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects
testing requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments."
Visit NBB's
website for more information about how and where to
purchase biodiesel.Grist
Magazine's Do Good page.
AROUND TOWN: I AM CAR SHOPPING
When car shopping, show interest in energy-efficient cars, (those
that feature high miles/gallon ratio), and say so aloud. As
the salesperson runs through the models, repeat the question,
"How many miles per gallon does it get?" Better yet, ask if
the dealership has any hybrid or electric vehicles for you to
test drive. See this Consumer
Reports list of fuel-efficient cars.
There is no environmentally perfect car on the market yet. Although
fuel cells hold much potential, our best options now are hybrid
and electric vehicles. But oh the capabilities of these vehicles!
The hybrid vehicles allow for the most conventional driving
lifestyle, while the electric models are quickly gaining mileage
and speed capacity.
Obviously you can visit a local dealership to acquire some of
this information about car options. But for a comprehensive
look at the electric and hybrid electric vehicles on the market,
visit Northeast
Sustainable Energy Association's list.
As there should be, there are some tax incentives for purchasing
one of these vehicles (after all, you are helping to decrease
the cancer and asthma rates in your area as well as reduce smog,
acid rain, and global warming). More information
on the tax incentive programs for AFVs and EVs, a site
managed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
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How Green is "Green," Anyway? Not sure how "green" your car/car-to-be
is? Find out, on the Environmental News Network's Green
Car Quiz.
Pledge to Buy Responsibly. Sign the challenge to buy a car with
a conscience (according to this pledge, one that is 50% more
fuel efficient, and manufactured with non-toxic materials).
Tell the car industry you are serious about wanting auto options,
and that if they are waiting for consumer demand they must wait
no longer! Sign
Environmental Defense's clean car pledge and industry
challenge!
Join a whole community of green car enthusiasts at the Green
Car Club. There you'll find information about cleaner
cars, as well as discussion groups that offer ample opportunity
to ask questions and post suggestions. Support like this may
be just what you need to stay involved in the changing industry.
AROUND TOWN: CAR? WHAT CAR?
Many commuters find that the headache of rush hour traffic alone
is reason enough to switch to public transportation. In many
cities, the bus, subway, trolley, and even ferry system offers
frequent and dependable service. According to Public Transportation
Partnership "The National Safety Council estimates that riding
the bus is over 170 times safer than automobile travel. Americans
living in transit-intensive areas save $22 billion each year
by using public transportation."
Some people are disappointed in the diesel fuel that many buses
use. While diesel is certainly not ideal, the public transportation
industry is aware of this and incorporating an increasing number
of gasoline, compressed natural gas, propane, and liquefied
natural gas vehicles. Take action by calling your local transportation
authority; tell them you think avoiding diesel is a priority,
for the sake of the environment as well as public health.
If you drive less than 12,000 km (7,500 miles) a year and you
don't need a car for work every day, car sharing will likely
save you thousands of dollars a year, give you greater mobility
- and actually reduce pollution. Over 50 cities in North America
currently have car share programs. Car
Sharing website has general information as well as
links to local car share programs.
Let's not underestimate the benefits of expending our human
energies. Biking, walking, jogging, skateboarding and roller-blading
are all ways of getting around as much as they serve as means
of recreation. As Americans try to work physical activity into
their daily routines, biking to work and walking to the store
are becoming ever more popular. It's jumping in your car for
little trips that add up to big problems later. So start your
engines! Your human engines, that is.
Bike
Coalitions LA works on
making biking more accessible and fun for their members.
Site sponsored by Refinery.
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