Driving is probably your most polluting daily activity. Each year the average automobile will emit nearly 730 pounds of regulated pollution – carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and particulates – and over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide when driven 12,500 miles. Light trucks (such as sport utility vehicles) driven the same distance can emit 40 percent more exhaust than that in one year. Vehicle use has the largest overall environmental impact when compared to other vehicle life-cycle stages, because these quantities are emitted every year over the lifetime of a vehicle (typically 10 to 15 years). The vehicle you choose to purchase and how you choose to drive it are the two greatest opportunities you have as a motor vehicle consumer to reduce these emissions.

1. Your Purchase Choice
   Buy the most fuel-efficient AND lowest emitting vehicle within the vehicle class that meets your transportation needs. Green Book. The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks, by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, makes this purchase decision easier. They have used fuel economy, vehicle emissions, and other measures to rank all makes and models of automobiles and light trucks for 2000. On the web, you can find listings of the greenest models in each vehicle class, and order the complete booklet to find green scores for all makes and models.
2. Your Driving Practices
   To maximize fuel economy and minimize the emissions your vehicle generates, we recommend these simple driving practices.
3. Your Maintenance Decisions
   Keep your vehicle operating in peak performance by following these recommendations on maintenance.

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