It’s been a long time since the first car made its way on the road. But even if the human race has come a long way from that era, there are still a number of things that car owners have to learn. This includes caring for the environment and being responsible about one’s carbon footprint.
Cars emit harmful gaseous substances -they pollute the streets and of course, the Earth. These substances are hazardous to human health as well. This doesn’t mean though that you should get rid of your car and start riding a bike. One must admit however that that is a good idea too.
According to experts, the best car that one can have is an environmentally friendly one. Usually referred to as green vehicles or green cars, these motor vehicles are not as harmful to the environment as the ones that run on petrol. Green vehicles are often powered by electricity while others run on alternative fuels. The hybrids, on the other hand, still use petrol but are more fuel efficient than conventional cars. They also usually emit less CO2.
Picking The Right Green Car
All green cars are a great choice but you’d also have to take into consideration what you’d be needing in a car. If you live in the city and doesn’t need much space, the best city cars one can get include the smart fortwo CDI, the Fiat 500 Twinair, the Fiat Panda Twinair, and the Volkswagen Up!.
Superminis are also a fine choice according to experts. If you want the best in this class, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid is a great car to have. Other top choices include the Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi, the Ford Fiesta Econetic 1.6 TDCI, the Skoda Fabia Greenline 1.2 TDI, the Alfa Romeo Mito 1.3 JTDM, and the Fiat Punto 1.3 Multijet.
For those looking for small family cars, a favorite among experts is the Nissan Leaf. Vauxhall Ampera is also another great small family car that doesn’t emit much CO2. Other options include the Lexus CT200h, the Volvo V40, and the Toyota Auris HSD. There are also a number of good models suitable for those with families. Renault Fluence, an electric-only vehicle is a top pick. The Toyota Prius T3, the Peugeot 508 Hybrid, the Citroen DS5 Hybrid, and Volkswagen’s Passat are also incredible.
There are also executive cars that have competitive CO2 emission. This includes the Volvo S40/V50, the BMW 320 D Efficient Dynamics, and the Mercedes C220 CDI.
If you want to drive a luxury car or a sports car, there are also various models in these classes that have low CO2 emission. The Porsche Panamera 3.0 Hybrid, the Audi A5 2.0 TDIe, BMW 640 D, and the Mercedes S 350 CDI are good examples.
Why Care For The Environment?
While saving Mother Earth is a good cause, and definitely a good reason to reduce one’s carbon footprint, there are other reasons why you should get an eco-friendly vehicle. Polluted air is not good for the body. In fact, studies show that it is the root cause of a number of ailments.
A few of the health risks of being exposed to polluted air include headaches, coughing, skin rashes, nausea, asthma, chronic bronchitis, kidney and liver damage, nervous system damage, miscarriages, birth defects, and cancer.
Because of CO2 emissions and the emission of other hazardous gases, the ozone layer is also affected. The ozone layer is now thinner compared to decades ago making it more risky to be out in the sun than ever before.
While pollution coming from car emissions is not the sole culprit, cutting back on these emissions will truly help.
How You Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?
One way to play your part in helping create a green environment, is by switching from a traditional style car to a hybrid vehicle. You can also, remove any junk or salvaged vehicle from your property, as these type of cars usually dispense chemicals that’s not the most eco-friendliest. There are many companies that buy junk cars and will remove them for free such as CarintoMoolah.com and JunkMyCar.com, now known as Peddle.
Ultimately, it will take a nation of folks to become more eco-conious, as well as big companies namely those within the Automotive industry to help make the world a better place in terms of our eco-system.
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This article was written by Michelle Lopez, a blogger from Bronx, New York who has a passion for healthy living, green cars, comedy, and hasn’t missed a NY Jets game since 2002.
