Out with the Old, In with the New

Those that have grown accustomed to high horsepower, gas guzzling vehicles of our modern day may ask, "Why choose a fuel efficient vehicle, over a power machine?" Global warming and its effects have become a worldwide epidemic that most of us are aware of, and it has been scientifically proven that the cars we drive contribute to rising global temperatures. If we could all make contributions to reduce our individual impact, it could collectively add up to help relieve the stress on our planet and have some reversal effect on the dire situation that we have put ourselves and our planet in.

A good start is to change the way we drive and what we drive, to get us from place to place. With many advances in technology there are more options. Couple that with the different techniques to commute more efficiently and this makes a way for everyone to reduce their impact, even if you are not looking to buy a new car. However, if you are in the market for a new car there are several different viable solutions that can reduce carbon emissions.

Alternative fuels include bio-diesel, ethanol (corn), hydrogen fuel cells, electric fuels cells, air powered, and even natural gas. Each technology offers slightly different benefits. Bio-diesel is a non-petroleum based diesel fuel. It is usually made from soy bean oil, vegetable oils, or animal fats. A convenience of bio-diesel is that it can be used in unmodified diesel engines. Ethanol is made from corn oil, and is suitable for cars that run on unleaded fuel. Hydrogen fuel cells have a major benefit, and that is there by-product is water. They create no harmful emissions, and they are extremely quiet. Electric fuel cells share the same quietness that the hydrogen fuel cells have, and are easier on the environment. However, one drawback to electric cars is that their batteries are rather large and take up a great deal of extra space (such as a trunk). Air powered vehicles are becoming more and more popular for the short distance trips, but unfortunately the technology does not allow for longer distances. Other setbacks include the fact that they are small and have limited space and they top out at a speed of 40 miles per hour. If you are into speed, this is not the solution for you. The obvious benefit is the car uses no fuel, hence produces no emissions. However, natural gas might be. Natural gas burns cleaner than regular petroleum fuel. And it can be easily produced in the United States. Each one of these is still an emerging technology, so some might say that they are too new and expensive to invest in, but I strongly disagree. The benefits to our planet outweigh the drawbacks.

For those who are not looking in to buying a new vehicle, there are driving techniques such as hyper-milling that can greatly reduce the amount of fuel we burn and release back into the air we breathe. Hyper-milling is a way of driving that includes different techniques such as accelerating slower. Instead of pounding on the gas pedal when we see a green light, we can gently ease on the gas and this reduces the energy we burn. Other techniques such as slowing down more gradually and driving "lighter" will help reduce our impact. Driving smaller vehicles, carpooling, and planning our errands so that we are not driving back and forth are easy ways to lower our emissions.

The earth is not expendable, but we treat it like it is. It is time to start changing the way we think and approach how we treat our earth. With all of the advancements that have been made in technology, this is one we should embrace and support. Vehicle emissions are a huge part of the global warming problem, and we can help to reduce our impact. I say, "Out with the old, and in with the new."







Sources
Fueleconomy.gov. “Alternative Fuels” 2008. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/Feg/current.shtml

Environmental Protection Agency. “Fuels and Fuel Additives.” 2008. http://www.epa.gov/oms/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm

U.S Department of Energy. “Alternative and Advanced Fuels.” 2008. http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/

Hypermilling.com “Hyper-milling: for Hybrid Cars or SUV Drivers or any Vehicle in Between.” 2007. http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/01/Autos/driving_for_mpg/index.htm

Forbes.com “Top 13 Most Fuel Efficient Cars” 2008. http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/02/efficient-gas-cars-forbeslife-cx_ae_0502fuelefficient.html

Kelly Blue Book. “KBB’s Top Ten Green Cars for 2008.” 2008. http://www.kbb.com/kbb/green-cars/articles.aspx?BlogPostId=646&r=437115256208926460

Article Written By Rachel Trimmer