If you drive an SUV, the easiest way to cut your carbon footprint drastically is pretty clear: ditch the gas-guzzling monster. But what do you do with a large car you no longer want? Tune in to onefewer.com starting today, to find out.
Ryan Mickle spent $60,000 on his Range Rover Sport in 2006. He loved driving it to work or to go hiking with friends. But since moving to San Francisco recently, he finds his fossil fuel-emitting sidekick to be more of an albatross than a positive force in his life. He could sell it, but that would not take the mean machine out of existence, just pass it on to someone else who would then assume Ryan’s carbon footprint. Pushing it off a cliff seemed a little drastic (and sort of illegal). Ryan created onefewer.com to spread the word about his SUV, now up for adoption, and ask readers: what is the most Earth-friendly way for me to part company with this mechanical mistake?
Here are some suggestions for getting rid of an SUV:
- Dismantle it and sell the pieces to various San Francisco artists.
- Donate it to a college where the students can use it to create a solar and wind-powered car.
- Turn it into a garden.
- Give it to a car-sharing co-op and pack 6 commuters into it every day on their way to work.
Visit onefewer.com and cast your vote.
Ryan welcomes all your suggestions as he tries to right his wrong.
Photo from the personal collection of Ryan Mickle.
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Sarah Pressman Lovinger
In trying to find the most effective way to help other people reduce their carbon footprints, Sarah turned to one of her favorite activities: writing. She started a green business, chicagogreenlife.com, to help her clients plan newsletters for their eco-friendly businesses. She also started her blog, mygreenerlife.blogspot.com, to provide useful advice to anyone who wants to lead a more environmentally friendly life. She also regularly contributes to www.afreshsqueeze.com, to let other Chicagoans know about eco-friendly stores, restaurants, and events. Sarah, an internal medicine doctor, works part-time in community health centers in the Chicago area. She graduated from Barnard College and Columbia University, and she lives in Evanston, IL, with her daughter and her husband. Stop by some time for some delicious, sustainable food--Sarah and her husband love to cook and entertain--any extras will end up outback in their composter.
6 Responses to An SUV Vanishes: OneFewer.com Makes it Happen With Your Input
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The guy in the pic above NEEDS HIS HEAD EXAMINED because he has certainly lost his marbles. People need to realise that you only live once and should drive whatever your heart desires instead of tryin to play saint.
So tell me this, what is the guy in the pic above gonna do when some Redneck comes up next him in a big lifted gas guzzling loud pick up??? Is he gonna try to ditch that guys truck too?? From the way he looks, I Bet ya NOT!!
I think the most environmentally conscience thing you can do with the 06 Range Rover Sport with a average MPG (in city) or 17mpg, is to trade it for my 99 Range Rover HSE with an average 12 MPG (city driving). I drive my car everyday to work and back, knowing that i am driving a “greener” car would make me feel better about myself.
If he wants to keep driving it, spend the extra bucks, and turn it into an electric vehicle… there are plenty of places in California that will do the conversion, and it’d be cheaper then wasting 60K on the car, then going out and buying something else to drive… all it takes is the commitment…
Definately pack in some commuters.
Although SUV sales are beginning to decline, it’s going to be a gradual process. Overall, it’s important for us, as individuals, to make purchases that not only provide the desired utility but also benefit the environment. For example, I came across a website http://www.simplestop.net that stops your postal junk mail and also benefits the environment.
What a great, timely article. Our family has spent a lot of time thinking about this one. We were on the fence between buying a Suburban and a more fuel efficient mini van last year. When push came to shove, I just couldn’t go for the gas guzzler. As a life long Detroiter, I knew I’d had an epiphany. My oldest son – who’s always suffered from a case of “Hummer Worship” – recently commented on how “stupid” he’d feel if he had to ride in one everyday. But…what would you do if you already owned one? Let the discussion begin!!! Love the commuter idea!