Search Helium

Home > Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Issues > Environmental Awareness

The road to green: How to reduce emissions from your vehicle

by D.K. Knight

Created on: May 07, 2008   Last Updated: May 20, 2008

Time to sell Sandra Dee! Sandra Dee is the name my daughter gave our 1978 Olds Custom Cruiser. Yes we still drive a tank. Mind you this is a very reliable car, I paid $250.00 for her 3 yrs ago and have moved with her traveling over 3000 miles. Yes she uses oil a lot and needs a good body redo and if you were to take her to a car wash she would leak. But she is a good friend. But with the gas prices and the global warming it is time to make the move to sell her and not continue to spend $40 for less then a quarter tank of gas.

I am sure that if I could afford a hybrid I would be glad to spend the money on fuel. However that not being the case Sandra is being sold at the end of the week. I am buying bicycles for all the family and a small trailer to pull behind one. We are close enough to downtown that biking is our choice to conserve energy, lessen the harmful pollutants driving causes, and its a great way to regain a more healthy lifestyle. We have thought hard on the pros and cons of driving vs. walking or biking.

Driving has become so damaging to all of us that not only the dangerous effects that it has on the environment, and the cost of fuel and up keep we spend more on cars is more then we do on our health and on our families. In most countries biking and walking are the norm. Maybe it is time that we catch up with the others. I live in Amish land and I have thought of horse and buggy. I worry though of the safety issues.

I will have to change a lot of our habits - shopping will be more often and less food at a time. Perhaps I will go more green now and it all fresh food. Cans and boxed foods will be too heavy to carry.In stead of just driving around because I am bored looking for something to do - I will instead stop at parks and cafes to rest my self from the biking.

I know this is not an option for everyone. But this is the option we have chosen at this time. I will put all that savings from not having the upkeep of a car and fuel cost and save for a hybrid car for when I want to go further then I can peddle. We all need to make a choice to go greener. Taking one step with changing your driving habits, the type of vehicle you use and the amount of pollutants you stop making can begin to change every avenue of your life and your Greener Path!

Learn more about this author, D.K. Knight.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

In the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, should offshore drilling be banned?

Click for your side.

261026

Featured Partner

Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

The Pulitzer Center promotes in-depth engagement with global affairs through its sponsorship of quality international journalism across all media platforms and an innovative program of outreach and education.more


CONNECT WITH US

Read
our blog
Helum for writers

Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills

Join our active writing community
Helium Content Source for Publishers

Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all

Get custom content today!

INFORMATION


Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA
#