Living Green: The Missing Manual

Green Cars in Every Color

When you're shopping for a new car, you have to decide on more than just style, color, and whether to get satellite radio or a CD player. Going green means looking for a car that's fuel efficient and easier on the environment than some big, heavy gas guzzler. Each gallon of gas your car uses contributes to global warming by releasing carbon dioxide—20 pounds worth for each gallon burned—and other greenhouse gases. For the average vehicle, that adds up to six to nine tons of carbon dioxide belched into the atmosphere each year. Fortunately, car technology is improving so you now have more earth-friendly choices, as explained in the next few sections.

Tip

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has a database of cars rated by energy efficiency. The database, available by subscription, goes back to 2000, and you can choose models to compare. Check it out at http://greenercars.org (click the left-hand ACEEE's Green Book link).

Fuel-Efficient Cars

Simply put, fuel efficiency means you get more miles on less gas, so you save money, burn less fuel, and reduce your impact on the environment—it's a win-win-win situation. Special technologies, described in the following sections, can improve efficiency, but if you're looking for a traditional car, ask these questions to get the most MPGs for your money:

• What size do I need? Many people buy a bigger car than they really need. Because larger vehicles are heavier, they burn more gas. So think about how ...