Comments on: The Quintessential American Oxymoron: The Hybrid SUV http://commonsenseworld.com/2007/11/the-quintessential-american-oxymoron-the-hybrid-suv/ Bringing Sanity Back To The World Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:26:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: kario http://commonsenseworld.com/2007/11/the-quintessential-american-oxymoron-the-hybrid-suv/#comment-1548 kario Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:40:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/the-quintessential-american-oxymoron-the-hybrid-suv/#comment-1548 Honestly, I think the most salient point here is that it is much more attractive to most Americans to have a product (and a media campaign) that helps us assuage our guilt at being horridly rampant consumers. While there are many of us who do care about the environment and are trying to make better choices, there are not exactly a wealth of good choices out there; just less-evil-than-the-alternative-choices. Such as fluorescent lightbulbs which, while they may last longer, contain mercury which is incredibly toxic to the environment. Perhaps instead of 'going green' we ought to focus more on consuming less altogether. In that way, I think Ken was right in saying the TV (and the lights) just ought to be turned off more often. Honestly, I think the most salient point here is that it is much more attractive to most Americans to have a product (and a media campaign) that helps us assuage our guilt at being horridly rampant consumers. While there are many of us who do care about the environment and are trying to make better choices, there are not exactly a wealth of good choices out there; just less-evil-than-the-alternative-choices. Such as fluorescent lightbulbs which, while they may last longer, contain mercury which is incredibly toxic to the environment. Perhaps instead of ‘going green’ we ought to focus more on consuming less altogether. In that way, I think Ken was right in saying the TV (and the lights) just ought to be turned off more often.

]]> By: Chris Wilson http://commonsenseworld.com/2007/11/the-quintessential-american-oxymoron-the-hybrid-suv/#comment-1547 Chris Wilson Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:29:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/the-quintessential-american-oxymoron-the-hybrid-suv/#comment-1547 Aside from being Spot-On that a hybrid SUV is a ridiculous prize for a TV "green week", your forgetting that its emissions, not mileage, that matters in terms of global warming. Each gallon of gas your 626 burns puts out a ~19 lb. of carbon dioxide.(Probably more, because as you've stated, the car's mileage has declined since when you first owned it, which implies your engine is burning the gas even more inefficiently) The Hybrid SUV puts out maybe a quarter of the emissions. And gets the same mileage. And give the choice between someone driving a Hybrid car (or a regular PZEV car) and a non-PZEV car, I'd rather they drive the one car that pollutes the least. <br/><br/>Honestly, there are a lot of Americans that are worried about Climate Change. I'm one of them. Many people are doing their part by re-insulating their homes and replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs. I've also started a recycling program for plastics, glass, and aluminum at my work place. <br/><br/>But the point you hit on, but don't really have a solution to, is that our infrastructure favors inefficient personal transportation. We are car centric. And cars remain a status symbol among our disappearing middle class. So we might as well push for as many emission-and-fuel efficient cars (and electric, really) as we can. Aside from being Spot-On that a hybrid SUV is a ridiculous prize for a TV “green week”, your forgetting that its emissions, not mileage, that matters in terms of global warming. Each gallon of gas your 626 burns puts out a ~19 lb. of carbon dioxide.(Probably more, because as you’ve stated, the car’s mileage has declined since when you first owned it, which implies your engine is burning the gas even more inefficiently) The Hybrid SUV puts out maybe a quarter of the emissions. And gets the same mileage. And give the choice between someone driving a Hybrid car (or a regular PZEV car) and a non-PZEV car, I’d rather they drive the one car that pollutes the least.

Honestly, there are a lot of Americans that are worried about Climate Change. I’m one of them. Many people are doing their part by re-insulating their homes and replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFLs. I’ve also started a recycling program for plastics, glass, and aluminum at my work place.

But the point you hit on, but don’t really have a solution to, is that our infrastructure favors inefficient personal transportation. We are car centric. And cars remain a status symbol among our disappearing middle class. So we might as well push for as many emission-and-fuel efficient cars (and electric, really) as we can.

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