When buying a car we are always looking for a high on the
hog hybrid or the latest flavor of the month. The way the whole world is going
gung-ho over a greener and an eco-friendly Earth, it will be a good idea to make
a beeline for the used cars that are up for sale instead.
Getting down to the brass facts, the hidden costs and
consequences that our environment face with the production of each new car
conceals stacks of pollutants, oodles of waste and plentiful of fossil fuel.
Taking into an account the carbon dioxide emitted by the various industries
that contribute to the manufacture of a car, the total cost of even a small new
car in terms of its carbon footprint could be as much as six tonnes of CO2. It includes
other greenhouse gases but takes into account their polluting capacity relative
to CO2. Also, the new parts and lubricants too contribute to the carbon
footprints. By investing in a used car that has been put up for sale recently,
we can delay the additional environmental costs that are involved in the
manufacturing a brand new car.
According to a Californian Energy Commission study, going
for a used car that would require occasional tune-ups and maintenance can save
up to 10 to 20 percent of a vehicle's total lifetime greenhouse gas emissions
which would be released during the manufacturing stage alone. Buying a used car
for a weekend hurrah, and taking the bus to work, is an even better idea.
In support of the above conclusion, a study by the U.S.
Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory says that an ample amount of
energy is spent in the production of the hybrid cars. They emit enormous amount
of greenhouse gases and burn more fossil fuels during the manufacturing
process. The production of hybrid batteries, in particular, requires much more
energy than producing a standard car battery and results in higher emission
levels of gases like sulfur oxide.
So, if going green is the way to go, then travel that way in
a used car.
