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January/February 2004 Living Now
The Biggest Polluter in Oregon

by Kevin Kasowski

Like it or not, the biggest polluter in Oregon is probably sitting in your driveway.

That’s right, cars, trucks and SUVs account for more air pollution in Oregon than any other source -- more than industry, agricultural burning or any of the other "usual suspects" we think of when we think of big polluters.

Vehicles are also the largest source of carbon dioxide, the leading contributor to global warming. It isn’t just a few old clunkers belching smoke that cause the problem. The catalytic converters in newer cars reduce smog ingredients, but they don’t do anything about carbon dioxide. And the statistics show that we’re all driving more and more miles every year.

In short, to quote Pogo, "we have met the enemy – and they are us." Fortunately, that also means that we each have the power to do our part to change. Simply taking the bus or transit or working at home one day a week, each of us can reduce the amount of vehicle pollution we generate by 20%!

But, even if transit or telecommuting is not an option for you, you can still reduce your impact on the environment in three ways: better driving habits, better vehicle maintenance, and by purchasing cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars.

Drive Green

Every time you get behind the wheel, you can make conscious choices that will reduce your impact on the environment. Bad driving habits can greatly reduce fuel economy, increasing your impact on the climate and costing you hundreds of dollars each year at the gas pump. A few quick reminders:

• Plan your route. Combining several errands in one trip can knock plenty of unnecessary miles off your odometer.
• Take a load off. Every 100 pounds of unnecessary cargo in or on your vehicle reduces fuel economy by half a mile per gallon.
• Drag is a drag. A roof rack that is not permanently fixed to your vehicle should be removed when not in use.
• Go with the flow. Avoid "jack rabbit" starts and aggressive driving; avoid rush hour (stop-and-go driving burns more gasoline)
• Stop idling. Try not to idle for more than thirty seconds.
• Know your limits. For every mile per hour over 55 mph, the average car or truck loses 2% in fuel economy.
• Park and walk. Rather than cruise the parking lot, park in the first space you find and walk! Quite likely, it will save you time too!

Stay Tuned

Changing oil regularly, checking tire pressure and keeping your car tuned are also essential to reducing the environmental impacts of your car. A badly tuned car uses 10% more gas (and generates that much more pollution) than one that is well maintained. If your tires are under-inflated by just four pounds, it costs you a half a mile per gallon.

You can also go one step further by patronizing auto repair shops that conduct their own business in an ecologically sound manner. For example, the "Eco-Logical Business" certification program recognizes auto repair and auto body shops whose environmental performance far exceeds minimum environmental regulations and standards. You can find a list of 25 certified shops in the Portland and Salem areas by visiting www.ecobiz.org.

Buy Green

If you're in the market for a new car and you care about the environment, the choice of which car you buy can have the greatest impact of all. The EPA's "Green Vehicle Guide" website (www.epa.gov/greencars) offers comprehensive online access to ratings for both fuel economy and vehicle emissions, including listing vehicles by class (compacts, pickups, SUVs).

Topping the list are gas-electric "hybrid" models like the Toyota Prius or the Honda Civic that boost fuel economy by roughly 50% over the same models with conventional engines. Next year, a "hybrid" SUV may even be on the market. You can learn what Oregon hybrid car owners have to say about their cars at www.orcouncil.org/Pollution/TransportationSolutions.htm.

Even if a hybrid isn't right for you, the choice you make is still important because, at least in terms of environmental impact, not all cars of the same class are created equally. For example, an SUV like a Toyota RAV uses half the gas and pollutes only a fourth as much as a GMC Yukon. Or, if you need a car with lots of room and a luxury car feel, a 6-cylinder Buick LeSabre gets 50% better mileage and pollutes less than a 12-cylinder Mercedes S600!

By combining several of the measures described above, you can multiply the gains you’ll create in helping the environment. All of these measures will also help reduce demand for oil drilling in sensitive environments, like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. With fewer greenhouse gases in the air, our planet will stay a little cooler. And we’ll all breathe a little easier.

Kevin Kasowski is the Development Director of the Oregon Environmental Council (OEC), a non-profit, membership organization that works to bring Oregonians together for a healthy environment. Visit their website at www.orcouncil.org.