Green & Clean Mom drives a SUV...so what!
I’m buying a new vehicle (my husband doesn’t know this yet). What I want is not practical for where I live or what I need it for. I have a family of four. We live where it snows (lots of snow people) October through March and sometimes April. I drive back roads almost daily. For my business I haul lots of stuff, along with the kids, strollers and groceries. My husband has the perception that bigger is safer and the more mass the more protected his family is. He doesn’t care about gas prices or the environment when it comes to his family. The day we brought my son home from the hospital, he took us home and went to the dealership and bought me a Yukon XL. Ask me if I was green then and I’ll say, no, but the SUV is green!
Scream at me now, I really don’t care! I am so tired of people being judgmental about going green and doing things earth friendly. It is stupid. If I want to drive a gas hog but use reusable bags then that is my business. Isn’t it better that I used the reusable bags then the plastic? I have people write me and say they don’t know why they bother trying because they’re never “green” enough. EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS! I could go buy a hybrid but that doesn’t mean I’m green or more earth friendly. Just yesterday, I saw somebody at the grocery store whip in with their hybrid smoking a toxic cig, threw the gum wrapper in the parking lot and had no reusable bags in tow. You know what they were buying? Toxic cleaning products! Driving a hybrid doesn’t make someone more earth loving than me or better and visa versa. There are lots of myths out there about hybrids and one of them is that they are more fuel efficient and have lower emissions, read myth number three from this article. A car does say a lot about who you are and what you believe but that timely saying, “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover”, should very much apply. Even The Daily Green posted an article about the misconceptions of “green” cars and it would do everyone some good to take a gander.
In my research for vehicles and pricing, I decided to check out a favorite site of mine, Tree Hugger. I found a recent post from one of their “tree huggers” that bought a SUV that was not a hybrid. I was even a little surprised but as I read through the interview and then the comments I understood. I became upset with the judgmental comments made but not surprised. Buying a car is a personal choice and you cannot change the perception or feeling of safety, case in point…my husband. What a person drives should not dictate who they are or how eco-savvy they are. If we want more moms and more people to do better things for the Earth and be more “green”, all of us need to be supporting even the smallest of choices and changes. A family that simply switches to organic milk and begins composting is making a difference, whether they drive a hybrid or not!
Seeing that I don’t live in the city, there’s no public transportation, I frequent snowy back roads and have a family, I will not be choosing a bike or a small hybrid. This doesn’t mean I don’t want one and it does not imply I am any less eco-savvy then the mom driving a hybrid. Thumbs up to her! When you and the kids need a ride maybe we can car pool and we’ll use my vehicle! What vehicle will I choose? Not a GMC, if I have my way! I’m really unsure at this point but I’m leaning towards a mini-van. If any car companies want me to do some test driving to make up my mind, I’ll love to do the review! LOL! I’ll let you all know when I decide but until then, keep you mean SUV opinions to yourself and start worrying about what choices you’re making and how you’re helping to support others out there going green. Passing judgment and acting holier than though doesn’t really do the “Green” movement any justice.
Scream at me now, I really don’t care! I am so tired of people being judgmental about going green and doing things earth friendly. It is stupid. If I want to drive a gas hog but use reusable bags then that is my business. Isn’t it better that I used the reusable bags then the plastic? I have people write me and say they don’t know why they bother trying because they’re never “green” enough. EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS! I could go buy a hybrid but that doesn’t mean I’m green or more earth friendly. Just yesterday, I saw somebody at the grocery store whip in with their hybrid smoking a toxic cig, threw the gum wrapper in the parking lot and had no reusable bags in tow. You know what they were buying? Toxic cleaning products! Driving a hybrid doesn’t make someone more earth loving than me or better and visa versa. There are lots of myths out there about hybrids and one of them is that they are more fuel efficient and have lower emissions, read myth number three from this article. A car does say a lot about who you are and what you believe but that timely saying, “You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover”, should very much apply. Even The Daily Green posted an article about the misconceptions of “green” cars and it would do everyone some good to take a gander.
In my research for vehicles and pricing, I decided to check out a favorite site of mine, Tree Hugger. I found a recent post from one of their “tree huggers” that bought a SUV that was not a hybrid. I was even a little surprised but as I read through the interview and then the comments I understood. I became upset with the judgmental comments made but not surprised. Buying a car is a personal choice and you cannot change the perception or feeling of safety, case in point…my husband. What a person drives should not dictate who they are or how eco-savvy they are. If we want more moms and more people to do better things for the Earth and be more “green”, all of us need to be supporting even the smallest of choices and changes. A family that simply switches to organic milk and begins composting is making a difference, whether they drive a hybrid or not!
Seeing that I don’t live in the city, there’s no public transportation, I frequent snowy back roads and have a family, I will not be choosing a bike or a small hybrid. This doesn’t mean I don’t want one and it does not imply I am any less eco-savvy then the mom driving a hybrid. Thumbs up to her! When you and the kids need a ride maybe we can car pool and we’ll use my vehicle! What vehicle will I choose? Not a GMC, if I have my way! I’m really unsure at this point but I’m leaning towards a mini-van. If any car companies want me to do some test driving to make up my mind, I’ll love to do the review! LOL! I’ll let you all know when I decide but until then, keep you mean SUV opinions to yourself and start worrying about what choices you’re making and how you’re helping to support others out there going green. Passing judgment and acting holier than though doesn’t really do the “Green” movement any justice.
Labels: going green, green and clean mom, hybrids, SUV's and global warming
posted by Green & Clean Mom at
1:05 PM
8 Comments:
I feel the same way you do. We need an SUV because, here it is, my confession you may never see on my green blog, we have a boat. OMG!!! And the boat doesn't get to the water by itself. We love our boat and its not that big. Anyway, when we are ready for a new vehicle we might look into the Hybrid SUV.
Yay! I'm completely with you (driving my 11 year old Explorer because I can't decide what kind of car I want to get but at least I'm having fewer cars go to scrap because I hold onto them?).
Good luck with finding a new car!
Do what you can. It's all you can do, and no one is perfect. Not that I (or anyone else) can't do better...
Until you are ready to buy a new car, why not buy "carbon offsets". Check out carbonfund.org or terrapass.com for more information. It isn't a perfect solution but at least it is something. I've even given these as gifts to my friends and family.
First off, let me say that because of this post I've lost subscribers! I offended them and they disagreed. That's the problem, too many people going green are acting like they're better than everyone else. It isn't nice and doesn't support the people driving their SUVS to Wholefoods, recycling, using reusable bags and non-toxic cleaners. Everyone can be some shade of green.
Second, Margie made a good point about carbon offsets and it's a great idea. I too have used them. Thanks for pointing that out.
The third point I want to make is there's more of "us" out there than actually "treehuggers". We're in the middle, just trying our best. What about those that drive a hybrid and fly everyother week? We have to be realisitic and supportive of each other.
Excellent article. My husband and I have 4 kids and live out in the country. My husband makes sculptures out of pieces of scrap metal which is very green. But how is he supposed to drive them to the gallery and to his clients -- in a Prius? He drives a Ford Excursion LT and I drive a Volvo XC90. But I've found that if we drive 60 mph or less, then I get 24 mpg and he gets 20 mpg. That is nothing to scoff at. I've never figured out why some people attack SUV drivers. These are the same people who buy new things thinking they're being green, when the greenest thing you can do is completely use something, including your vehicle, before you replace it. In fact, buying a used car is greener than buying a new Prius. I say drive that SUV as long as possible, but drive it slowly and make your trips mindful.
Who says you can't be green and drive an SUV? Silly people, that's who. Count me as a new subscriber!
I understand the country roads, and I secretly have always wanted a Jeep. It's true that city dwellers should not judge the car needs of those in the country - I cannot imagine riding my bike on the country high way (death way if the accident rate is looked at) that my mom lives off of. It's hard, though, because I see so many people driving SUV's who really don't need them - they live in the city and sure they have two kids but so do I ... It's just become the standard family vehicle and a lot of people don't question whether they really need all that space. Our solution is to own one car, a Subaru station wagon, and time share a small pick up truck with our extended family. I work from home and there is good public transportation in this town. My husband's work is within bike distance, but he never does it. We'll be getting a second vehicle soon - a Vespa!
I appreciate your defense of SUV's, and even though I would never buy one I will try not to judge you. :)
Not so fast!
First of all, those who say they do not like to be judged, often mean that they do not want others to ANALYZE their situation. It is wide-spread spread in North America to reject the questioning of and looking at your neighbor's habits by others. It has pros and cons. On the positive, more people can do whatever they feel like and that can be good. On the other hand, more people can do whatever they feel like and that can be bad. There are ethical limits to what we can do as individuals because our actions may impact on the well-being of others. Pollution is not our business alone, it is everyone's business.
If you claim to care about the environment and that you do your best (or even better than others) you need to accept to be held against the light of critical scrutiny in regard to your ecological impact. Most certainly, no individual's situation is easy to analyze or compare with others. Nevertheless, it can be analyzed and just because you do not like the results does not mean it should not be done.
Cut and dry: A SUV is generally a large, heavy, highly powered vehicle with a rather inefficient engine when it comes to gasoline consumption per vehicle (not per horsepower). The utility value of an SUV cannot be denied and North
Americas`s modern lives are difficult to live if you refuse the transportation conveniences offered by those sort of vehicles. Much of this life-style developed as a result of the development and marketing of these vehicles. Soccer Moms may have existed before the minivan or SUV, but it really took off after it became more convenient with the help of the development of SUVs and minivans. In the past people put their stuff on top of or behind their cars, not inside.
To continue this further, the problem with the SUV is neither the U, nor the V. The problem is the S. Utility vehicles exist for a long time and have existed way before the SUV came along. The first Landrovers had little horse power and successfully crossed the Sahara loaded with survival gear and equipment. The problem today is that we expect to drive such vehicles as if they are sports cars or luxury vehicles. They are loaded which makes them heavy. They are driven hard and, combined with their mass, are inefficient as a result.
The other problem is luxury and size. Before the SUV, there were station wagons. Other than 4-wheel drive and size, they offered what an SUV can do. Sure, less conveniently, less room, less sporty, less heavy, just as inefficient, and with less status. The large station wagon was replaced and with it disappeared the willingness to pack kids tight into a car, load the roof with stuff, have less stuff, etc. We have gotten lazy and spoiled.
Most US-Americans are used to the SUV as part of their life-style. They are not needed unless you like to live this life. This is of course easier said than done since it is hard to just disconnect yourself and risk being considered an outcast or weird. No doubt, not being able to participate equally is difficult for most adults and children. Nevertheless, it is true. Just look at other places that you could consider comfortable. Europe for instance. Much fewer SUVs or even minivans. Do they live a horrible live? No, they don't. Do they have a completely different infrastructure? Yes they do, but that is not a result of the unavailability of the SUV there. They use trailers or rent a truck. Even in Canada there seem to be fewer SUVs. And they sure do not live badly. Gas is and was much more expensive there as long as I can think. The monsters could not develop, as a result a life-style did not develop.
A SUV is a reflection of your life-style choices, not your needs. If you choose to drive a SUV please accept that you choose a vehicle that is less efficient than others. Keep it for a long time, drive it as rarely as possible, drive it defensively, don`t drive it alone. And work on your life-style that is dependent on your SUV. Without a SUV you may not be able to live your life as conveniently. You may not like the limits imposed on you by having only a small vehicle, but most likely you could do it. Much of it was done before the SUV. In the long run, once gas gets to be over $6 per gallon, you may say good-bye to your home in the mountains and say "hello again" to the ways of living your parents or grand-parents were used to.
I predict that large efficient utility vehicles will be developed more. Until then you may have to wait and suffer hearing that your choices are poor in regard to the environment (even if they are understandable in regard to modern life and mainstream US-American's perception of feasibility, safety, or even freedom).
Statistically speaking SUVs have more accidents than regular passenger cars. Too much horse power, high center of gravity, perceived invincibility.
A trailer may be not as easy to maneuver but it costs very little in comparison to an SUV, has a higher utility factor, allows you to transport even manure, can be treated like crap and still works fine, and does not increase your fuel consumption when you do not need it. If you need to haul something big and need a really powerful vehicle, well, you live big. Don't lull yourself into thinking you can do that and have a sustainable impact on our planet. You can't have the cake and eat it.
We will not reduce our ecological impact by 80% without ending most of what we like to do in North America. You can continue convincing yourself that what you do is NEEDED, or you can look at what you do honestly and rationally and separate WANTS from NEEDS and begin changing. It won't be as comfortable as it was. Get used to it - The world is changing.
Karsten
--
http://polluteless.com
Practical Advice to Pollute Less
wow, you said it a lot different (and in some ways better) than I did; I admire your courage, your temperance, and your decision.
mark ontkush
the treehugger SUV guy
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