Green Sin: Driving an SUV
This sin is ranking highish on our green sin poll. Peggy and I didn’t even think of this one. In fact a reader added it, and now more of you have clicked on it, voting that you do have an SUV.
I know almost nothing about cars, so I’m maybe the last person who should be writing this post. I did a little reading and found out that basically, with an SUV (a non-eco-friendly one) you’re burning more gas and creating more emissions than with some other cars. But an SUV is not the only bad car. Pick-up trucks, for example are just as bad. SUVs are not an earth-friendly choice, but they’re also not worse than some other things we do.
Also, if you have an SUV because you feel it’s the only car that fits your family, something else to consider is how much you drive. If you’re driving a more earth friendly car, but one that still uses gas, and you drive A LOT vs. driving an SUV maybe three short times a week, and walk other places, than this specific SUV is more eco-friendly than the other car. It’s not just the car, but your habits with your car that matter.
Would I get one. Hmmm, no. I’d rather have a more eco-friendly option and still drive less. Also, I don’t think they’re safe, but that has less to do with being safe for the planet and more to do with crashes.
I can sum up SUVs some, but since cars are so not my area of green expertise, I found you some links.
SUVs = bad:
GM SUV spoofed by environmentalists
Environmental vanity plates don’t stop SUV pollution
SUVs = not so bad as we think, or at least only as bad as other stuff:
Some surprisingly clean facts about SUV’s
Computer servers ‘as bad’ for climate as SUVs
Eco-options:
Hilary over at Eco Friendly Driver, has a ton of posts about greener SUVs.
Since someone obviously added this to the green sins poll - you tell me; if you have an SUV, how come? Do you think it’s a sin and if so, why not simply drive another car?
Tags: Anti SUV Portal, clean facts about SUV, creating more emissions, Driving an SUV, Eco Friendly Driver, greener SUVs, SUV pollutionRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Climate & Global Warming, Travel
4 opinions for Green Sin: Driving an SUV
marye
May 18, 2008 at 6:43 pm
with 8 people to put in a vehicle our options are limited. When we have to haul big round bales of hay, our options are limited.
Saying that, we do try to not drive unneccesarily. MArc works 2 miles away from home, I work at home, the kids are homeschooled. I think for the most part my longest trip is to the VA (10 miles) or to Wholefoods (15 miles) but those don’t tend to be too regular.
N & J
May 18, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I own a Ford Escape Hybrid. Living in Colorado I need something with four wheel drive that can handle A LOT of snow and reliably get me to and from work because being snowed in would not be a good excuse for missing work. However, when it isn’t snowing I bike or walk so even though I drive a SUV now I drive about 5,000 miles per year then I drove my little Chevy.
Peggy
May 18, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Hello Marye and N&J. I can understand both of you needing a larger auto.
Something I always hate to see is a young single person driving around a HUMMER. It happens a lot where I live, and we never get snow. I try not to judge, but surely there’s a better option that isn’t a status symbol.
Kirsten
May 19, 2008 at 6:37 pm
As a family of 6, a compact car is not an option. We have toyed with getting one of those Volvo station wagons with the jump seats in the back. But then where do you put the groceries from Costco or Sam’s? Softball catcher’s gear? Beach stuff? I guess strap it on top, then you may be sucking even more fuel in increased drag. Our option? Drive less, merge errands. I will wait and drive the husband’s Saab hatchback when he’s home too. The benefit that’s most important to us is not having a car payment. If we traded in our Excursion for the Volvo, we’d have another payment. We can’t wait to pay off our SUV in September. That’s $630 in our pocket each month to put towards paying off the Saab in 6 months. Then onto building our ICF home. See, there are better things for us to worry about sometimes than saving maybe 10 miles per gallon in gas. Run the numbers and do what’s best for your family. Our diesel Excursion has been good to us, very easy and inexpensive to maintain (15 mpg. too) and we feel good we’re not one of those families that get a new car as soon as the old one is paid off.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: