Transportation Choices and CO2 Emissions Impact: Facts and Solutions

1. Transportation choices and CO2emissions By: DayanaraVeliz & Abel Adam

3. Facts • Car: 2008 Nissan Armada • 28 gallons of gas /week  1,456 gallons / year • 12.9 metric tons of CO2 emitted / year • 10.6 acres of U.S. forests are needed to sequester this amount of CO2 • This is equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of: • 2.7 passenger vehicles (20axle, 4 tires) • 0.647 homes’ energy use • 1.8 homes’ electricity use • 30.1 barrels of oil

4. Comparison to overall U.S Data • Average annual CO2 emissions of a passenger car is 5.1 metric tons (compared to 12.9) • More than half of CO2 household emissions come from vehicles • Nissan: 14 MPG

5. U.S. Carbon Emissions • United States Environmental Protection Agency

6. Household Carbon Emissions

7. Solutions • Switching to Minivan: 21 MPG • If you drive 15,000miles a year you save $1200 in gas. • Annually, switching from a 20 MPG vehicle to a 30 MPG vehicle saves you $903 dollars (assuming 15,000 miles of driving). • Filling the gas tank once a week will release 9.2 metric tons a year (already a reduction). • Increase of tax on cars that are inefficient, to cover the cost of CO2 emission effects. • Tax on gas  more efficient use of cars • Incentives to use public transportation

8. What you can do? • Drive Smart • Go easy on the gas pedals and breaks • Regular Tune-up • A well-maintained car is more efficient • Check your tires pressure regularly • Use public transportation • Save some money and times, especially in large cities.

9. Sources • EPA (U.S Environmental Protection Agency) • www.epa.gov • U.S Department of Energy • www.fueleconomy.com