|
IN THIS ISSUE |
Member Alert
AAA Watch
Top Story
Partners
Washington Watch
In The News
|
 |
|
Member Alert |
Question: Where are my gas rebates?
Don't Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater
We Understand that a Check Is More Valuable Than a Baby, But You Get OurPoint
Wondering where your gas rebate check is? It could be buried in your junk mail pile among the credit card offers and pizza coupons. Our vendor puts its name "Assurant" rather than ours on the return address.
(We know, we know, we're working on it.)
At the same time, the checks resemble the "fake checks" sent by credit card companies as a promotional ploy.
Complete Story |
|
|
|
AAA Watch |
Pennsylvania AAA Opposes New Clean Air Standards
Oregon Joins 8 States in Adopting the "California" Rules
BWC President Serves on Oregon Task Force which Implements New, Tougher Emission Rules
Guess AAA Is Lucky that Better World Isn't Headquartered In Philadelphia
At a time when a number of states are implementing the "California" rules regulating auto greenhouse gas emissions, AAA, has launched a campaign to block adoption of these rules in Pennsylvania.
PennEnvironment is asking its members to email AAA and urge them to drop their support of the anti-clean car bills. Let them know that Pennsylvanians want stronger clean air protections, not more air pollution.
Take Action or read AAA's misguided
opinion piece.
|
|
|
|
Member Specials |
Better World Club Is On The Map!
The Green Map That Is
Green Maps of NYC Available from Better World Club
 Over the years, Green Map System has promoted sustainable living resources in NYC by
producing the Green Apple Map. The forthcoming energy-themed citywide POWERFUL GREEN MAP of NYC will be available from Better World Club.
Better World is on this new map! The map's information also provides critical information to promote energy awareness.
Complete Story
|
|
|
|
Member Watch |
From Time to Time, Kicking Asphalt publishes statements from our members:
Assistance Sought for Environmental School
Hello Better World staff,
I work as an educator in NJ at the
Education Information Resource Center and at Woodbury Public Schools, a NASA Explorer School. Several years ago, Woodbury entered into the Tour de Sol (an event co-sponsored by Better World Club) with an electric vehicle. This year
we would like to obtain a diesel vehicle and make our own fuel from vegetable oil.
Complete Story
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Story |
2006 GAS GUZZLER SURCHARGE ANNOUNCED
Congrats to GM's Hummer: It's Off the List
Lamborghini and Dodge Ram Remain, Bentley Joins Them
While Better World Club provides discounts to drivers of alternative fuel vehicles, we also surcharge the least fuel-efficient cars sold in the U.S. This year, according to federal government statistics:
-
The Lamborghini Marcielago is the least efficient two-seat car getting only 9 city miles per gallon
-
The Dodge Ram 1500 Pick-Up remains the least efficient pick-up truck, once again only getting 9 mpg in the city. The Ram deserves special recognition as it is only 3 miles more efficient on the highway than in urban driving, the worst
performance among the inefficient cars.
-
There has been one change in the line-up. The third position has been assumed by the Bentley Amage 8 in the Least Efficient Midsize category and the Bentley Amage LWB in the Least Efficient Large with their 10 mpg records. (Yes, we know,
how many Bentley drivers do we have? Sigh. Well, the facts are the facts.)
-
One of last year's premier gas guzzlers, the Hummer H2, has been replaced by a new model, the H3, which has improved gas mileage from roughly 9 to 15 miles per gallon. Our congratulations to GM for this improvement.(Hey, it's better than
the Dodge Ram.)
And, congratulations as well as to all of our "winners". It is important to remember that we're not sticking our tongue out at the owners of these cars, but encouraging them to recognize the social cost of what they're driving. Any
surcharge revenue is devoted to our environmental donations.
Meanwhile the Honda Insight, a gas-electric hybrid car, edged out the Toyota Prius as the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the U.S. Both get an estimated 60 miles per gallon in city driving.
Complete Story
BETTER WORLD CLUB MOVES LOCATIONS
We Can Run But We Can't Hide.
Not That We'd Want To
Better World Club is moving Uptown and Downtown--kind of sideways. Our new address is
Better World Club
20 NW 5th Ave, Suite 100
Portland, OR 97209.
Will the move to a more "elite" address mean a BWC that is more formal? Elite? Hardly.We're the same dilligent, member-dedicated crew that's been volunteering since the very beginning of the Company. (Note to management: We're not
volunteers. We work here!)
On the other hand, will relocating to a more Downtown address mean a BWC that is more, say, hip-hop? "Yo, do you need a tow?" Seems unlikely. (Ed. note to writer: Actual hip-hoppers may not still use the term "yo". This appears to be a
middle-aged white guy's "dated" appreciation of the genre. Perhaps something '60's like "We'll get you higher by fixing your tire." is "hype" that you can "relate to" more.) |
|
|
Partners |
League of American Bicyclists
 Better World Club has partnered with the League of American
Bicyclists to offer our Bike Only members a membership with the League. Its mission is to promote bicycling for fun, fitness, and transportation and work though advocacy and education for a bicycle friendly America. And they've been
doing it for 125 years! For more information regarding the League please visit
BikeLeague.org
Their Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) campaign is a great program to check out.
Complete Story
|
|
|
|
Village Mechanic |
A New, Occasional Feature: The Village Mechanic with Eco-Auto Tips
It's the "Holiday Season", the time of year when we look forward to judging our friends and families by the quality of gifts that they give us.
It's also the time of year when we demand more from our vehicles. Take moment to think, how would my vehicle judge me?
Am I ready for the weather? Be it do-it-yourself or dealer orientated, think, maintenance. Here are the top two things to do:
Oil Change: Something as simple as an oil change can mean extra miles and lower maintenance costs.
Tires: Next time you go out to your rig take a second and look at those round black things called tires. Do they look inflated ? Or is one or more looking a little low? If you don't have a friendly neighborhood mechanic not to
fret. At most tire stores they will go out of their way to look at your tires. Don't be afraid to buy yourself a tire gauge and check your own tires, the recommended tire pressure is usually in your owners handbook or located somewhere on
the vehicle. If all else fails, call the dealer and ask them. They love for people to call them with questions, really.
If you have any car questions feel free to drop us a line at Kicking Asphalt. Keep your eyes on the road and drive like the people in the other cars are your neighbors, because, hey, they just may be. Or they may be strangers in much
bigger cars. Either way, be careful out there.
Visit our friends at Car Talk for more
Winter Driving Tips?
|
|
|
|
|
Washington Watch |
America Becomes World Leader in Seriously Discussing Global Warming.
At Montreal Confab, Bush Administration Promises Resolve Towards the Possibility of Action
If Further Study Eventually Reveals Planet At Risk, Administration Promises to Suggest that Americans Voluntarily Reduce Emissions. Maybe...
The U.S. rejected the Kyoto Protocol in 2001. Delegates from all over the world recently met in Montreal to discuss the treaty that will replace Kyoto when it expires in 2012.
The US has been notably intransigent in relation to global warming, refusing to sit at the table in recent UN climate change talks. Paula Dobriansky, the US delegate at the summit stated, "It is our belief that progress cannot be made
through these formalized discussions." The U.S. opposed additional talks under Kyoto, but isolated with Saudi Arabia, relented near the end of the session. Read a
detailed description of the talks
State of Washington To Support Bio-Diesel with Loans, 2% Bio Requirement in Diesel
"Washington Watch" Can Include the State of Washington
As noted in AAA Watch, the State of Oregon has adopted California's rules regulating the greenhouse gas emissions of automobiles. This victory came at a cost for the people of Oregon. Republicans in the
Assembly blocked a support package for bio-diesel by adding a veto of the California rules to it, thus killing the bio-diesel support effort.
As noted in AAA Watch, the State of Oregon has adopted California's rules regulating the greenhouse gas emissions of automobiles. This victory came at a cost for the people of Oregon. Republicans in the Assembly blocked a support package
for bio-diesel by adding a veto of the California rules to it, thus killing the bio-diesel support effort. Read
more of the story.
|
|
|
|
In The News |
Rocky Mountain Bullhorn Calls Kicking Asphalt "Brilliant" and "Funny"
Who Is the Rocky Mountain Bullhorn?
Just a Group of Committed Journalists Who Understand the Value of a New, Crisp $20 Bill (Not that We Have That Much To Hand Out. We're Not Jack Abramoff Here.)
It's been a busy holiday season as Better World's Travel Cool! program has been promoted by Coop America to offset holiday travel's greenhouse gasses and Car Talk has been filling unpurchased time with
info on BWC, to name just a couple of mentioners.
But here at Kicking Asphalt, our favorite mention was in The Rocky Mountain Bullhorn which identifies itself with the "news, views, and culture of Northern Colorado." Not every alternative paper has its own automotive columnist, but the
Rocky Mountain Bullhorn does. Norvella Carpenter had some nice words for Kicking Asphalt in a recent column, calling KA "brilliant" and "funny". Of course, we think Norvella Carptenter is the smartest, most perceptive columnist in the
U.S.--at least until Maureen Dowd or George Will compliment us.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
