Most people are familiar with the window labels on new cars that give important information about fuel economy and greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
But most people buy used vehicles. About 40 million used cars were sold in the United States last year versus about 15 million new cars. Thanks to a new web-based tool developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, consumers can now get fuel economy and greenhouse gas information for used vehicles.
The labels give fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions from when the car was new. But a properly maintained vehicle loses around 2 percent of its fuel efficiency over 15 years.
For every gallon of gasoline we conserve and every pound of greenhouse gases we don't put into the air, we can make a real difference. The label tool can be accessed here: http://tinyurl.com/nzwn8hv.
The Obama administration has taken unprecedented steps to improve fuel efficiency by establishing the strongest fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles in U.S. history. These standards are expected to save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump and eliminate six billion metric tons of carbon pollution.
The EPA will continue its work as part of the President's Climate Action Plan, which was released on June 25, 2013, and calls for cutting carbon pollution from power plants and vehicles, investing in renewable energy and expanding energy efficiency. You can find the plan at http://tinyurl.com/nrajmde.
New Yorkers can address climate change: Buy energy efficient appliances; get your power from a renewable energy source; compost your food waste; recycle; use mass transit; and, if you buy a used car, use the EPA's great new used car label tool to help reduce your carbon footprint and conserve fuel.
Judith Enck is the regional administrator for EPA's Region 2 office, which includes New York.