Friday, May 4, 2007

Terrapassing

So since I've been researching about cars like mad the past few days (I just took my old car in today to get it diagnosed.. yea, poor thing is going to be leaving us soon), one thing I have been looking into are cars and their carbon emissions. One website that gives you awesome info about this is Terrapass.com. Simply go to the Road section, enter in what car you have, and annual mileage, and it will tell you how much lbs of carbon you're emitting into the air. It also tells you how to offset it by purchasing carbon credits.



You can also purchase credits for flights you take, and home usage. What's the point? Well they basically offset your carbon emissions by funding clean air sources. Neat, yea? :)

Awesome idea, and I found it VERY helpful regarding what cars to consider for having the lowest emissions. I looked at several cars, comparing mine to newer ones. Obviously, the hybrid would be the best bet, but after doing some number crunching, it isn't the most affordable bet for me either. I can actually afford a regular Civic, and something my boyfriend noted was that if finances get better next year, maybe we can trade it in for a hybrid.

*sigh* I test drove both the regular Civic and the Hybrid Civic today and oh goodness, I yearn for the hybrid WITH navigation. Why can't you be affordable?!

Here's a conversation I had with my boyfriend today in the car too which I found amusing.

HIM: Hybrid cars aren't affordable... you don't see poor people driving hybrids
ME: No, poor people take public transportation which is better.
HIM: .....
HIM: Well, you don't see lower middle class people driving hybrids.

:P
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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

HAHAHA. i like that conversation. makes me laugh. my friend sent me this link to this article that was saying that the prius is not as energy efficient as something like a scion. i don't know where it is, but you may want to do some sniffing around.

nicholei said...

I bought a Honda CRV back in January. It's such a gas guzzler :(

susan yee said...

tsk tsk! should've bought a better car! :)

susan yee said...

carol - hmm really? a scion?

susan yee said...

carol - your friend may need to rethink their Scion likings..

Your car emits 8,686 lbs of CO2 per year.

And the Prius...

Your car emits 4,226 lbs of CO2 per year.

Anonymous said...

Hey Susan,
Congrats on the new Civic! It's pretty good on gas :-)

Also, good on you for doing Terrapass!

Thanks for sharing your blog with me :-)
-Danielle (from the DWF)