Buying green
The reasons to go green when buying a new car range from the practical to the fashionable. A car that uses less fuel costs less to run. At the same time, it emits fewer pollutants and greenhouse gasses. Politically, driving a car with high fuel economy contributes to energy independence, reducing the need for foreign oil imports.
Climate change caused by carbon dioxide emissions from cars receives most of the press these days, but efforts to clean up automotive emissions started as an attempt to reduce smog, which caused public health problems. Internal combustion engines release hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide contribute to smog, while carbon monoxide is a poison in its own right. Current automotive emissions controls are aimed at curbing these pollutants
Nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide contribute to global climate change. For every gallon of gasoline burned, 19.6 pounds of carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere. Currently, there are no laws limiting carbon dioxide emissions from cars in the U.S., making consumer choices the only tool for decreasing these automobile-generated carbon dioxide emissions.
There are many new choices facing the car buyer who wants to help the environment, reduce dependence on foreign oil, or just save money during every day driving. These choices range from cutting edge electric cars to alternative fuel-powered vehicles to new technologies for gasoline engines that increase fuel economy. In this guide, we take a look at the current options for new car buyers.
