Greenwashing the Problem
I'm painfully aware of the impact of my rapidly growing carbon footprint and happily support companies that help me lighten it.
The Road to Global WarmingThe "Green Collection" from Hertz is not one of those companies. Only cars with EPA ratings of 28 miles or more per gallon were slotted for the program - but apparently someone messed up.
One car in the program, the Buick LaCrosse, tops out at 20mpg with city driving and barely reaches 27 mpg on the highway - 20 city miles is hardly green. It's just a muddy shade of greenwashing.
Where's the Toyota Prius (48/45)? The Honda Fit (28/35)? The Honda Civic (40/45)? Heck, we'd even be happy with the Ford Focus Wagon (24/35) for larger families. Nine months after the program launched, Hertz added the Prius to its lineup, but didn't eliminate offenders.
If you're looking for ways to green up your travel, know your options:
Check out the Smart Car: It's small, cheap, fuel-efficient and adorable - the perfect rental car.
Just say "no" to upgrades: The chance to drive an SUV may make you feel like a rock star, but the feeling will fade when you max out your credit card at the pump.
Power your own transportation: Get on your bikes and ride - more and more cities around the world are making pedal and pedestrian safety a high priority - and it's a great way to sight-see
Consider a hybrid: Fox Rent A Car and EV Rental Cars[http://www.evrental.com/] in California offer hybrids exclusively but they're a little pricy. Hybrids can drive in the multiple-passenger lanes, though, no matter how many people are in the car. Your time saved in traffic may be worth the extra cost.
Kimpton Hotels in NYC: Offers guests who pull up in a hybrid a discounted rate.
The Muse Hotel in NYC - Even throws in a copy of "Honku - The Antidote to Road Rage."
Do you consider green options when you're renting a car?
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Hertz Green Collection
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