The Sierra Club has set up a mileage calculator on their website that purports to tell users how much their mileage would improve if fuel economy requirements were updated and carmakers put all the technology that's currently available on their cars. While this seems like a good idea for showing people how much they would save under the new rules the reality is somewhat flawed.

When a user goes to the site and selects the car or truck they have and the annual miles they drive the calculator displays the current mileage and what could be achieved with current technology. It then displays how much money you would save. The problem is that much of the data in the calculator is incorrect. For example selecting the Ford Escape hybrid shows a current mileage of 33mpg and a potential of 62mpg which seems highly unlikely. Choosing the Prius or Civic hybrid brings a response that the vehicle is already achieving maximum fuel economy. If an Escape Hybrid could almost double it's mileage why not these two?

If you select a Toyota Yaris it reports the current mileage as 22.7 mpg and potential of 39.7mpg. I suspect most Yaris drivers would be very surprised and suspect something is wrong if they got mileage that low. The same result comes up if you select a Honda Fit or numerous other cars. According to the site the current numbers are based on EPA ratings but clearly they have entered a lot of erroneous data. The idea is a good one, but if the results are so wrong it can be counterproductive and damaging to the club's credibility. They should really take the calculator off line until they correct the errors.

Update: Someone from the Sierra Club posted in the comments that they are aware of some errors and are updating their database.

[Source: Sierra Club via Green Options]

Here at AutoblogGreen, we try our best to bring you the latest in green automotive news. But what about right now... what if you want to do your best with your current situation. I can certainly understand that, as I would love to own the latest, most fuel-efficient vehicle around, too, but economics dictate that I can't just go out right this minute and spend $20,000 on a new Prius, or more on a Tesla or full electric SUT, like the Phoenix we featured yesterday.

So, maybe we are stuck with your gas burner, and its once again time to fill the tank. Have you ever wondered where to fill based on how hard the oil companies try to do good? Check here. The Sierra Club has put up some good information to help you make an educated choice. Aptly titled "Pick Your Poison", you can check on the activities of the companies you choose to - or have to - support.

[Source: Sierra Club via Treehugger]

"Out of Balance" is a short film that addresses ExxonMobil's impact on the climate and how the company influences governments and media. The filmmakers have recently posted a two-and-one-half minute trailer on their website and have announced that the movie has been accepted by the Sierra Club Energy Film Festival. As each festival hits a city, expert panelists will also be available for comments.The movie interviews numerous scientists and draws footage from Greenpeace and Union of Concerned Scientists. In addition to offering evidence that ExxonMobil ignores climate science, the film offers ideas for the social changes necessary to help turn around the situation. The film is for sale through Joe Public Films.

[Source: World Out of Balance]

The Sierra Club's Cool Cities Across America program is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging individual cities to promote environmental awareness and take real steps that cut CO2 output. More than 300 cities have signed on, including a handful in Virginia. Two retired Virginia Tech professors are trying to get their home of Blacksburg on the roster but the mayor is reluctant. Jeanne and Dave Roper have changed their light bulbs, walk more often and purchased a pair of Toyota hybrids. The Ropers say they're taking "baby steps" but would like to do more, such as switching to an electric vehicle.

The Ropers have called on Mayor Ron Rordam and the town council to join in the program. Town leaders must sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement which calls on them to take steps to reduce pollution within the town borders. Blacksburg already has pollution controls in place that have been commended by federal and state officials. But Mayor Rordam doesn't want to join the program for fear of being viewed as criticizing the federal government. Said the mayor: "I think the town should stay away from taking positions on national issues." He would rather develop and commit to a local plan that is similar to the Sierra Club's efforts. The town council will continue the debate.

[Source: Tonia Moxley / Roanoke Times]

Daniel Becker of the Sierra Club thinks domestic automakers are on suicide watch and Pres. Bush is holding the rope. His thoughts on yesterday's meeting between the Big 3 execs from Detroit and Pres. Bush are certainly less flattering than most news reports. Becker laughs at the fact that Rick Wagoner of GM and Alan Mulally of Ford drove to the White House in one of their company's hybrids, but none of the vehicles (Saturn Vue Green Line and Ford Escape Hybrid) get anywhere near the mileage of Toyota and Honda's best hybrids. He says technology will save American jobs, not political whining. "This is auto mechanics, not rocket science," says Becker.

[Source: Sierra Club via Common Dreams Newswire]

The Toyota Prius was tops on the EPA's annual list of best and worst fuel efficient vehicles. In fact, imports took all but two of the top-10 spots and hybrids accounted for half.

The list prompted the Sierra Club's Dan Becker to charge that the auto industry has the techology to achieve better fuel economy but fails to do so. He also lashed out at the Bush administration, saying it and the automakers "are blowing smoke when they tout E85 ethanol as a solution to oil dependence and global warming."

Becker sees large gaps between the most efficient vehicles and the average vehicles in each class. Said Becker, "The best in class vehicles demonstrates that the auto industry has the technology to make vehicles get better mileage. But the low fuel economy average show that the auto companies fail to put that technology in most of their cars and light trucks."

You may have these numbers memorized, but here they are again: the Prius is rated at 60mpg city/51 highway followed by the Honda Civic Hybrid (49/51), Toyota Camry (40/38), Ford Escape Hybrid FWD (36/31) and Toyota Yaris manual (34/40). The next five were the Yaris automatic, Honda Fit manual and Toyota Corolla manual. The Korean cousins, Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio, were ninth while the Ford relatives, Escape Hybrid 4WD and Mercury Mariner Hybrid 4WD rounded out the top 10.

The worst offender was the Lamborghina L-147/148 Murcielago automatic with a 9/14 rating. It was followed by the Bently Arnage, manual Murcielago, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti automatic and Ferrari 599 GTB. The only American vehicle in the bottom ten was the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD in 9th place.

The EPA Web site lists the top 10 vehicles for best and worst and names the leaders in each segement category.

[Source: Sierra Club via Common Dreams]

This issue is extremely complex; however, a few recent articles are worth reading if interested.

Massachusetts is leading a coalition of 12 states, a few cities (including San Francisco and Aspen) and environmental groups in a lawsuit against the EPA. While under President Clinton, the EPA said it had the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. But under the Bush administration the EPA reversed itself. Hence, the lawsuit that is now before the Supreme Court. A decision won't come until next year but both sides are gearing up for the showdown.

A Q&A story found at nature.com gives an excellent background on the issue, including notes on similar actions in other countries. Read it before taking in some stories on both sides.

Urging a victory for the EPA is Marlo Lewis Jr. In his essay for RenewAmerica you'll find the familiar conservative buzz words: consumer choice, less competition, more expensive, government authority and hopeless cause.

I couldn't find such an engaging point of view from a single source in support of the lawsuit, so here are stories about the amicus briefs filed on behalf of the National Wildlife Federation and marine conservation advocates.

Don't feel you have to read all at once. This story is going to be around for a long time.

[Source: nature.com]

Does the Clean Air Act give the EPA power to regulate greenhouse gases? If so, can the EPA avoid exercising that authority simply because it doesn't want to? These are the two primary questions David Bookbinder, senior attorney for the Sierra Club, wants the U.S. Supreme Court to answer when Massachusetts v. EPA goes to trial in December.

The trial has the potential of delivering an immense impact to the environment. Last Sunday, Newsweek's Debra Rosenberg conducted an interview with Mr. Bookbinder. Excerpts of that interview can be found here while some notable points of the interview are as follows.

When asked about the potential of the Supreme Court to sidestep the case and rule on mere technicalities, Mr. Bookbinder said, "No, I don't think so. There's really no wiggle room. Either EPA has this authority or not. It's a very plain language case."

As for the impact on states and cities, Mr. Bookbinder says, "It will be very difficult for California, whose authority also comes from the Clean Air Act, to say they have authority to regulate greenhouse gases if the EPA does not." However, he also states that the outcome of the case should not affect the bill passed last week by California's legislature curbing emissions of power plants and factories.

When speaking on the diversity of their supporters Mr. Bookbinder also notes that they include two of the largest power generators in the U.S. - Entergy and Calpine. The reason for their support, he states, is "They say we are building the next generation of power plants and we'd like to have some certainty."

Related:

• BP America will work with Schwarzenegger on greenhouse gas bill
• California to cap all greenhouse gas emissions
  

[Source: Newsweek via MSNBC]