Sierra Mazda’s Guide to Green Driving: Part 1
Welcome to our ten part, Sierra Mazda Guide to Green Driving series…
Drivers are becoming increasingly aware of both the financial and the environmental costs associated with the vehicles and trucks they drive. Drivers seek to balance the utility we need from our car or truck against the expense of operating it (meaning the amount we pay for gas). We are also increasingly aware of the environmental “footprint” we leave behind when we drive. This guide gives you some tips about how to minimize both the financial and environmental cost of meeting your transportation needs whether you drive a Mazda or any other brand of cars.
Southern California Beach
It’s not necessarily what you drive that defines your environmental impact. How and when you drive might be more significant. This is an extremely important point and it is generally overlooked in the judgment of environmental behavior. But when trying to reduce your impact on the environment, the real concern is the total pollutants coming out of your tail pipe measured against what you accomplish. This can be minimized in a number of ways without changing vehicles.
Ways to reduce your environmental impact no matter what car you drive.
1. Maintain your vehicle
2. Drive gently
3. Drive less
4. Drive off peak
5. Car pool
Ways to consider the environment while picking the best car or truck for your needs
There’s more to picking a vehicle than its emissions and fuel economy. Safety, performance, utility, styling, comfort and amenities (like cup holders, power seats, trunk space and navigation systems) – these are all important factors in deciding what to buy. No matter what you decide you need, a new car or truck will almost certainly be better for the environment than an older one. The manufacturers are constantly reducing the emissions and increasing the fuel economy of the vehicles they make. Also consider that many transportation-related environmental goals depend on the sale of new vehicles and the retirement of old ones as their essential strategy. In fact, voluntary accelerated light duty vehicle retirement (paying people to scrap their old vehicles) is a key element for Southern California in California’s State Implementation Plan (SIP) under the Federal Clear Air Act. So buying a new car does advance the state’s environmental goals.
Next: Buying The Right Car for Green Driving
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