When it comes to car shopping, people tend to go for what’s stylish, affordable and most times, extra features, like heated cup warmers and touch screen GPS systems. However, in a moody economy like ours where gas prices fluctuate every other day, most people never seem to go for the great mileage deals. If a person had to choose between a Cadillac CTS and a Toyota Prius, the majority would probably take the Caddy. That’s mostly because our society is too caught up on name brands and not enough on saving their pennies. Meanwhile, the Prius, better known as a “green” car, gets about 50 mpg, while the gas guzzling CTS gets about 20 mpg. The better deal is obviously the Prius, and while it might not be as trendy, it’s ultimately saving buyers more money. Nevertheless, our society should start focusing more on going green while saving green, as well as our planet, all at the same time.
As a commuter-student at SUNY Old Westbury, I usually observe the parking lot to see what cars my fellow commuters are driving. In general, I expected to see a range of vehicles, but not many green cars. However, I am happy to say that there were actually more green cars than I had expected; stylish ones too! More importantly, green cars, especially for commuters in college, are a great way to save money since we have loans to consider, books to buy, booze to drink… I mean, food to eat, and so on.
By now, some of you may be asking yourselves what a green car is. No, it’s not literally a green colored car. A green car is a vehicle known for being environmentally friendly. Also, green cars have a much less damaging impact on our environment compared to ordinary cars. They also come with clever incentives like riding in the HOV lane, so you can pass the petroleum burning conventional cars. Oh, and don’t forget the parking spaces for green cars only, at the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, found right next to the handicapped parking. This is a clever promotion to persuade buyers into getting a green car for a spot that is much closer to the desired destination – like the mall.
So while closer parking spots may seem appealing to some, most people just appreciate the mileage per gallon that they would benefit from a green car. At this point, it would be interesting to see if the green car parking movement would shift to campuses, including SUNY Old Westbury, which currently has no policy for exclusive green car parking. Which lead me to the Bursar’s office, responsible for issuing campus parking stickers. However, after speaking with the staff at the Bursar’s office they mentioned no knowledge of having a future green car parking policy. That can always change, and so can the economy. Overall, green cars have come a long way with their style, their make, and their expanding benefits. So it is safe to say that green cars are something everyone should consider the next time they shop for a new set of wheels.