All cars use energy. But some are more efficient than others. For instance - there's no "need" for anyone to own a Hummer. There's no "need" for most people to own most of the gas guzzler cars on the roads these days. But the alternative to owning a gas guzzler is not electric. It's "anything less guzzling than that." Whatever that is. If you can get a car that gets 30mpg, and takes you where you need to go without actual discomfort, why would you buy a luxury boat that only gets 19mpg? Sure the efficient car is a crappy little piece of tin, but you're not living in the thing, you're just using it to get from point A to point B.
And if you are able to walk in comfort and the store is only a couple of blocks away, why are you driving to the store at all? Walk. Or take the golf cart, gas or electric, whichever. Or ride your bicycle.
Better yet - become an activist who wants to change transportation in the Villages entirely by promoting the idea of a Square to Square shuttle system. It won't eliminate cars - but it could drastically reduce their use.
Then there's the plastic bags for garbage day - you have to have "this" color bag for this kind of trash and "that" color bag for that kind of trash. So now you're just spending money to buy virgin plastics that are just being thrown away. And twice a week - convenient for the homeowner but not very convenient for the environment.
You could promote more use of solar energy. The entire town square could run entirely on solar, if someone were to develop a plan to do so. My home town's municipal buildings are all powered by solar energy.
There are SO many things that every single person can do to HELP - it's just a matter of whether or not our convenience is more important than our legacy.
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