New label to help Washington car buyers
Beginning next year, car buyers in Washington can learn about a new vehicle’s emission standards in a jiffy, with the help of a new label.
The label will provide global warming and smog emissions scores, said Seth Preston, a spokesman for the state Department of Ecology.
It’ll be mandatory for all new cars, vans and trucks sold in Washington.
Generally, consumers look at fuel-efficiency ratings when buying a vehicle, and now they’ll be able to compare different emission ratings, he said.
A low rate won’t make the vehicle illegal just offer more information to potential buyers.
The labels, which started in California, have been designed to educate the public about the sources of greenhouse gases and their effect on the environment.
Ecology department officials say passenger cars, freight and construction vehicles, ships, airplanes and trains are the state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions at about 47 percent.
The new label is part of efforts to update the state’s “clean cars” standards.
