Environmental Defense and Yahoo! Join Forces to Help Consumers Find Environmentally Friendly Cars

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Lisa Hanna, (202) 466-9633, [email protected]

(Washington, DC - November 1, 2006) – U.S. car buyers now have a simple way to compare the “greenness” of their automotive choices. Environmental Defense has partnered with Yahoo! Autos to make Green Ratings widely available to consumers—right next to vehicle prices and other common car specs anyone can access on the Internet.

“Consumers can think of the Yahoo! Green Rating as a yardstick that measures how well a given car cuts pollution,” said John DeCicco, Senior Fellow for Automotive Strategies at Environmental Defense. “The Yahoo! Green Rating covers all of the major environmental impacts associated with a motor vehicle, from health-harming tailpipe pollution to greenhouse gases that cause global warming.”

Rated on a scale of 1-100, the Yahoo! Green Rating reflects a vehicle’s total environmental impact. The higher the rating, the greener the car and the lower its harm to humans and the planet. Car shoppers can find the most environmentally friendly model by just picking the car or truck that has the best Green Rating among the models they are considering.

“Americans’ care for their environment runs deeper than the ups and downs of gas prices,” said DeCicco. “The Yahoo! Green Ratings provide a lasting way for consumers to act on their values and comparison shop with the environment in mind.”

Because fuel efficiency factors into the Green Ratings, greener choices cut oil use and help U.S. energy security while protecting the planet.

“Driving green is good for our health, good for our nation and good for our planet,” said DeCicco. “Yahoo!’s Green Ratings empower car buyers to choose the greenest model that meets their needs and fits their budget.”

To access the Green Ratings and see the Yahoo! Autos new Green Center, go to http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/.