Which Eco-Friendly Vehicle is Right for You?

As fuel prices rise, we've all got the same question on our minds:  Is now the time to purchase an environmentally-friendly car?  The fact that there are so many options can either be seen as a blessing or a curse; brands like Chevy and Toyota now have several models from which shoppers can choose.

To make things a bit easier on consumers, Doug Tiffany, an energy economist at the University of Minnesota, created a unique tool.  According to the university's Web site, the tool comes in the form of an Excel spreadsheet that promises "to help you organize your thinking as you consider the purchase of an alternative or conventional vehicle."

How does the tool work?  Tiffany explains the spreadsheet in three easy steps:

1.  Enter key figures for each vehicle you are considering.

2.  The tool will help you compare and contrast costs of ownership and operation, as well as differences in each vehicle's greenhouse gas emissions.

3.  Play around with different scenarios to see how the graph response.

It's as easy as that!  Click here to download the Vehicle Decision Tool now!