The auto industry and its consumers find themselves being driven towards producing and purchasing more personal vehicles. Presently, the auto industry enables heightened economic activity, employs millions of workers, consumes large amounts of goods and services, significantly contributes to the gross domestic product and substantially adds to federal, provincial and local government revenues.

Although both industry leaders and consumers mutually benefit from the by-products of vehicle manufacturing, there are many noteworthy drawbacks associated. According to the Canadian Vehicle Survey reporting for 2000, 17.3 million vehicles were in use across the nation throughout that year. That use also demanded 43 billion litres of fuel. The significant consumption of a non-renewable resource in Canada alone during the year 2000 questions the sustainability of the auto industry.

How does the automobile industry measure up?

The auto industry relies heavily on petroleum, to name one of its many required resources. Presently, it is big business. According to American figures from the year 2000, households spend an average of $7,400 per year on personal automobile transportation expenses. In addition to that, worldwide car ownership is rising by 5% per year. There are more automobiles in use than ever before. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, gas operated units emit an average of 12,500 pounds of air pollution per year, 11,450 of which is carbon dioxide.

Now that we know how much fuel is needed per year, what are some of the emissions associated with making that fuel? The oil sands industry in Alberta emits 85.5 kilos of carbon dioxide per barrel during crude extraction and the conventional crude oil extraction method emits 28.6 kilos of carbon dioxide per barrel.

If 43 billion litres of fuel was required in the year 2000 to propel Canadian automobiles alone, then how much more petroleum is needed to fuel the manufacturing of the parts, products and operations associated with the manufacturing of these automobiles? A Toyota spokesperson admits that more than $100 million dollars worth of energy is consumed and 1.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide is emitted per year across all manufacturing plants. The automobile industry is one of the largest air pollution sources around the world both by means of production and manufacturing. Presently, 40% of emissions produced in California are due to automobiles.

Enough scary stuff. The facts tell us that we are heavily polluting our earth everyday. Most of us rely on our cars, I know I do. I absolutely need it for my company. But what can be done?

I have to say that this is a hard one. We simply cannot stop making cars or stop driving them. Their innovation needs to change and it will be hard when the auto industry relies so heavily on petroleum…98% reliant, to be exact.

We need to be proactive when purchasing a vehicle, just like we are when we purchase all our other belongings. Companies like Toyota and Honda have created more fuel efficient cars and have cleaned up their business practices as well. Toyota plans to change the design of its manufacturing plants to save on energy, water and material usage. These positive changes will not only save Toyota money, it will reduce its overall emissions and landfill waste. Honda has done the same.

Although cars are a necessary evil, I encourage you to understand the implications of such an industry. Research, be aware and make more green decisions in a very non-green industry. We can all drive less, carpool and the like, but most of us are not likely to fully give up our keys to independence.

You too can have your household questions answered—or, if you have some great healthy household hints that you'd like to share, e-mail me, I'd love to hear from you.