Fueling the Economy

Some could say the economy is in the tank lately. And if you’re a car owner, you might think the tank being referred to is attached to your motor vehicle.While you can sit idly by and wait for gas prices to go even lower, you may want to reconsider your mode of transportation. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have just launched the 2009 Fuel Economy Guide.

This is definitely the go-to site if you’re in the market for a new car (should you go with the Bentley or the flex-fuel vehicle?). You can create side-by-side comparisons to measure the estimated yearly petroleum consumption, MPG estimates, carbon emissions, and the cost to gas up for the year. You can even just check in to see how your present car ranks in its class.

Of course fuel economy for cars is just one piece of the energy puzzle. Buildings account for nearly 40 percent of carbon emissions in the United States, and a hybrid is no match for a walkable neighborhood.

For even more sites with energy-saving information, check out the References section of the 2009 Metropolis Next Generation Competition.