Driving Green

Today fuel prices are rising and people are becoming more aware of the impact vehicles have on the environment. Consumers who are shopping for vehicles are making smarter choices and buying vehicles that are fuel efficient and have less of an impact on our ecosystem. Below are some of the things you can do to drive greener.

Tailpipe and CO2 emissions have played havoc on our environment. When you are considering buying a vehicle you should check the car’s air pollution scores. You can use the Internet and find the EPA’s air pollution scores for any vehicle. These list are searchable by state and vehicle model.

Today many of the automakers are using green materials in the interior of their vehicles. They are also using recycled components and making parts from plants. Some automakers are using leather like products and using environmentally certified fabrics.

You can use the Internet to find which vehicles have been given top awards for being green. Some people may be surprised that diesels have recently been beating out hybrids for green awards. There are a number of organizations that give green awards. You can check them out to see which vehicles are rated the highest as far as being green.

You can also compare the factories of the different automakers. Most of them have made huge strides in making their manufacturing facilities green. The Ford Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan has 10 acres of drought resistant plants helping to absorb the CO2 in the air. It also has a program that captures paint fumes and converts them to hydrogen to a power a fuel cell at the plant.

If everyone does their part and makes a conscious effort to drive green we can make a difference in the quality of air we breathe. By driving green you are also saving money on fuel.

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Top Ways to Drive Greener

If you are looking to find ways to drive greener then you have to consider several things. It depends on what you drive, how you maintain your vehicle and how you drive. Below are some tips that you can use to make greener choices when buying your next vehicle.

There are many engine and transmission choices that you can make to drive more green. You should try to go leaner on engine sizes and manual transmissions usually give you better gas mileage. Curb weight can also make a difference. Certain options such as third row seats and four wheel drive will add weight to the vehicle and cut down on your fuel efficiency.

Some automakers have designed systems that will deactivate half of the cylinders in your engine under certain driving conditions. This helps improve fuel economy and also lowers emissions. Chrysler has the Multi Displacement System and Honda offers a Variable Cylinder Management system that will make your driving greener.

If you buy a hybrid vehicle you can lower your fuel consumption and also reduce harmful emissions. Today there are many different vehicles to choose from and almost all of the major automakers have hybrid models. New technology has also made diesel fuel cars cleaner. They now have lower emissions and you will also get great fuel mileage.

One of the best ways to reduce your car’s environmental impact is to buy a small car. The subcompact cars on the market today have become surprisingly roomy and versatile. The automakers have made smaller cars more comfortable and have added many amenities to add to your driving experience.

By making smart choices and being more informed about green technology you can drive a vehicle that is fuel efficient and also better for the environment.

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