Can I Buy A New Car And Cut My Carbon Footprint?
The Accord lookin' sexy, glistening in "White Diamond Pearl" Coat
As much as I love riding my bike, the length of my daily commute and my career in real estate do not allow me to ride as often as I’d like. For now, my bike has become a pastime activity instead of my main mode of transportation. As the time for a new car quickly approaches, I have set out to make the most educated decision in picking my next car so that I can meet my goals and decrease my carbon footprint by 10% in 2010.
So here’s the deal: I’m currently in a 2007 Honda Accord Coup which emits at least 7.3 tons of carbon or more per year. Ideally I would like to cut my carbon footprint in the transportation department by getting a hybrid. Since I’ve always been a Honda gal, I’m opting out of going with a Prius and looking at the Honda Insight instead. With that in mind, I scheduled an appointment to test drive an Accord and an Insight.
Walking onto the sales floor of the dealership, the sexy 2010 Honda Accord stood in front of my like a sexy temptress. With lights gleaming off of its beautiful “White Diamond Pearl” polished skin, it seemed to send a flirty wink my way. I begin fantasizing about driving this car on a beautiful summer day. So silent, her engine doesn’t even purr, offering a “smoov,” gentle ride. I’m in love!!!
Then the Insight rolls out and it’s like a record scratch interrupts the romantic music in my head. Compared to the Accord, the Insight kinda looks like the ugly duckling on the lot. With that unattractive hatch back trunk and the station-wagon like bodice, the Insight quite honestly looks like the Hunch Back of Honda Vehicles. I mean, I knew that it was designed to be resilient and aerodynamic, but really it’s just not aesthetically appealing. The interior doesn’t come in leather, but it uses less
So now I’m completely torn! Should I pick the girl with a seductive, attractive body and mediocre personality or the not-so-adorable physique but amazing character?
The bottom line is that I pledged to reduce my carbon emissions in 2010 by at least 10%, which means I have to eliminate at least 2.1 tons. By choosing an Insight rather than the 2010 Honda Accord, I am saving 2.3 tons of carbon emissions and reducing my current transportation-carbon footprint by 2.5 tons. The question here is “how much is saving carbon worth to me?”
The sales lady informs me that the Accord is on a special promotion, saving me $300 a year in payments, compared with the Insight. They’re really pushing for this Accord and it is quite tempting. However, after doing the math I find that if I choose the Insight not only would I be saving carbon, but I’d also be saving $700+ in gas per year.
The Honda Insight may not be the prettiest, but offers more than the eye can see
Ladies and Gents we have a winner! My heart lyeth with the Insight. As the great Temptations once said, “Beauty’s only skin deep, yeah, yeah yeah.”
COMMENT: Buy a new car or get one used? How do you decide what to do to get around?
No. Your carbon footprint will now include the production of a new car, the huge production of the batteries, and shipping to get all the parts from around the world together. Buying a used car would not cost you any carbon for production.
A leather interior? You would be responsible for the breathing and methane gas from a cow that had to live then die for you to have leather seats.
Remember that at higher speeds, you are less effectively using gas. So if you drive at 80 mph, you are producing more carbon than if you drove at 60 mph.
According to the California Transportation Department, you should stick with as white a color as possible and get your windows tinted with reflective film. They say that a black car with untinted windows uses more carbon because the AC has to work harder. By the way, reflective film will reduce any cell phone reception inside your car.
Keep the car’s outside clean and tires always properly inflated. Not doing that will increase drag and increase your carbon output.
Also remember that people produce carbon by breathing, so having a baby would be environmentally unfriendly.
As for your recreational biking, if you are not actually going somewhere, your increased breathing rate is creating extra carbon.
Hey Mike:
Thanks for reminding folks that the purchase of a new car does include the carbon emitted during production and shipping. That’s definitely something folks need to consider when deciding whether or not to buy a new car, or stick with a used one.
It’s a trade off, man. By making little changes in our lifestyles, we can lessen the impact those lifestyles have on our community. For me, I gave up my car in 2001, opting to ride a bicycle for the bulk of my transportation needs.
In regards to breathing and birthing, that’s taking it down an extremely slippery slope and you know that
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RT @ATX4U NEW POST: “Can I Buy A New Car And Cut My Carbon Footprint?” [link to post] < --WIll @rgvari pick the pretty car?
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NEW POST: “Can I Buy A New Car And Cut My Carbon Footprint?” [link to post] < --WIll @rgvari pick the pretty car?
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What about the Civic? It kinda looks like the accord:
http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-hybrid/
Just to clear some things up, I have always leased my cars. It makes more financial sense for me, and there is just no way around it. So I either get a new car or buy one of those pedicabs that I’m certain would be really bad for business.
I’ve never had a leather interior, nor do I plan on ever getting it. I was definitely planning on going with white for a coat, thanks for the recommendation!
I don’t want to become BigAriInAustin, so for now, I’m gonna keep on biking, and keep on exercising. Added weight on my body = bigger carbon footprint.
When the time comes to have children, I’ve always wanted to adopt only, but I think it’s silly that we’re talking about childbirth.
Thanks for your perspective Big Mike. I’d really recommend breathing though, it’s sort of vital to… well.. life.
Ari, I think it’s great that you’re trying to do the best possible thing for the environment. I’m thinking that the Earth is probably well prepared for the extra breathing caused by exertion. We recently found a site where you can calculate the carbon emissions based on your car make and model plus the coordinates for your trip. You can check it out if you like. (http://www.newbrunswickgasprices.com/TripCalculator.aspx) Note that it is based on gas prices where I live, but if you’re not concerned with the actual prices, it will work for any coordinates and the emissions calculations will be correct.
We used it to calculate our own carbon footprint. We were actually pretty bad. (Wait till Big Mike gets a load of us.) We’re making lots of changes and doing our best to cut back. You can check out all our cutback plans here: http://talesofgoodness.com/2011/06/06/drive-responsibly-reduce-your-carbon-emissions/. Best of luck!