EPA Ad Campaign Touts Efficient Homes, Ridicules Idea Of Efficient Cars

[hatrack]

DETROIT, June 24 - "A new series of whimsical public service announcements from the Environmental Protection Agency are lampooning the notion that cars can be made more energy efficient while the ads encourage conservation at home. A top E.P.A. official said the $1 million campaign was developed by a branch of the agency that specializes in energy-saving home appliances and was not intended to send a message about cars. But it comes at a time of heightened awareness of oil consumption and energy security, and despite the fact that many analysts say consumers can make their greatest single contribution to air quality when choosing a car.

It also comes less than two months after an E.P.A. report emphasized how much more fuel efficient new cars and trucks were in the mid-1980's. The E.P.A.'s transportation division was not consulted for the new public service announcements, the E.P.A. official, Brian McLean, said, despite the fact that a car plays a starring role.

EDIT

In a 60-second version of the public service announcement, a woman named Suzanne says she is concerned about pollution and global warming, but laments the homegrown efforts of her husband, Mark, to cut emissions from the family car. Mark - nerdy, pudgy, harried - is shown rigging up their car, first with a sail, then a microwave contraption using huge satellite dishes, and finally a helium tank with a bulbous hose. "The E.P.A. says the energy we use in our home can cause twice the greenhouse gases of a car," Suzanne says, adding that she has started buying energy-saving household products. Buying a cleaner car, or say, a smaller sport utility vehicle, does not appear to be a viable alternative for reducing emissions. The ad ends with a shot of Mark pushing the car down a hill and Suzanne saying, "He still marches to the beat of a different drum." At one point, the car fills with helium, Mark starts talking like Mickey Mouse and two men in the backseat shake their heads and say "Genius!"

EDIT

In a shorter version of the ad, Mark's car sails down the road - literally - while a narrator says, "there is a practical way to reduce air pollution." Viewers are then directed to a Web site that lists energy- efficient furnaces, computers and dishwashers - in fact, just about everything but cars."

EDIT

[UGABrother]

1. that's really weird

The corruption caused by BushCo's ties to oil seeps into everything.

[phantom power]

2. reminds me of a speech by Gingrich

It was one of the usual futile attempts to pass an increase in CAFE standards, and Newt was up in front of Congress with a picture of a lime-green golf cart, saying "Don't force Americans to drive this car!".

Or maybe it was some other neocon. Delay, or Hatch. One of those guys, anyway.

It was stupid and disingenuous on so many levels, but what really put it over the top was that this was *after* Toyota had just started selling the first Prius in America, proving by direct example just how idiotic and out-dated this kind of thinking has become.

[cprise]

3. When Bush is finally gone

...I will celebrate by playing this commercial.