Greening Your Car
Jennifer
Last night I was checking out wired.com when I noticed this article discussing whether it was “greener” to buy a brand new hybrid car or a used car.
Not too surprisingly, the efforts behind making hybrid cars often have a large carbon footprint. And worse yet, if the car is manufactured abroad then you have to consider the fuel behind its transport to you. Former Beatle Paul McCartney was recently criticized for having a hybrid Lexus delivered to him via cargo plane instead of by ship. Though given the McCartney clan’s track record (both Paul and his daughter, fashion designer Stella McCartney, have shown dedication to the environment and animal rights issues), perhaps it was just an oversight as many have suggested.
Wired contends that you can avoid these issues by purchasing used cars as they have already paid back the “carbon debt” incurred in manufacturing and shipping. Thus by that logic, a fuel efficient used 1994 Geo Metro XFi, which gets 46 miles per gallon, has less of a carbon footprint than a new Toyota Prius with the same mileage.
What Wired didn’t mention, however, is the option to completely get rid of your car altogether. Here in New York City, having a car is a luxury and indeed not entirely necessary due to the vast network of public transit at our disposal. Though, when I do need a car, I’ll use a rental service like Zipcar which makes the effort to be greener a priority.
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