Driving Choices

Like most Americans my main mode of transportation is my car. After spending two years getting around on my feet and by public transportation in Boston and New York, I had to give in and buy a car when I moved to Salt Lake so that I could get myself to work.

It's not the worst car in terms of gas mileage, but it's not the best. In most other areas of my life, there's a lot that I can do make more environmentally-friendly choices. I carry a cloth bag. I buy mainly organic foods. I shop at local businesses. I purchase wind energy. But I feel pretty stuck with my car.

If you don't live in an area with good public transportation or within walking distance of work and shopping, you're pretty much stuck needing a car in this country. And you don't have a ton of options when it comes to making green choices with that car. You could either get on the waiting list for a hybrid or buy an alternative fuel vehicle and hope you can find a reliable fuel source.

My problem with both of those options is that they require buying a new car. Last I checked cars didn't just appear out of thin air. Building them requires a lot of resources and produces a lot of pollution. The immediate effects on the environment wouldn't be all that pretty if every American were to run out and buy one.

So my question is what can I do with my current car to make it more energy efficient? If you know of any ideas that Detroit is trying to keep the lid on, I'd like to know.