Looking For A Green Machine? Find Clean Car Information On The Net

Two free Environmental Defense web sites now provide a clearinghouse for the latest environmental information about autos. The car ratings on ForMyWorld.com, recently updated to include the 2001 model year, provide a “Green Score” for all cars and trucks from the past two model years. The free Tailpipe Tally on www.environmentaldefense.org allows consumers to quickly make head-to-head environmental comparisons of up to four vehicles at once from model years 1978 to 2001.

“Environmental Defense provides the most user-friendly and comprehensive environmental information about autos out there, and it’s free,” said Environmental Defense clean car advocate Kevin Mills. “Now consumers who want to help protect the planet have the tools they need to purchase the cleanest cars available. Many sources provide consumer information on auto performance and other attributes, but never before has this breadth of environmental information about cars been available for free.”

ForMyWorld.com’s car ratings assign every car, van, pickup and SUV from 2000 and 2001 a Green Score based on tailpipe emissions, fuel economy and other aspects of a vehicle’s overall environmental impact. The Green Score uses a scale of zero to 100; a higher score means a greener car, or one with less environmental impact. The Green Score enables users to compare the overall environmental impacts of new vehicles in the same class and across classes. The information comes from ACEEE’s Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars & Trucks, published by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

The Tailpipe Tally calculates fuel consumption; fuel cost; carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming; and emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, all of which contribute to urban air pollution, including smog. The Tally also tells consumers how much money they’ll save on fuel with a more efficient car.

“The car ratings provide consumers with a single score to help them determine the cleanest new car to buy,” said Mills. “The Tailpipe Tally allows consumers to compare specific aspects of environmental performance among both new and older model cars. Together, this data will help consumers choose a vehicle that meets their needs while also going easier on the Earth.”