REU Program
Qualifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact for the Automotive Industry
Automobile sector is one of the world's most significant industries. Every vehicle produced entails use of a varied number of materials. The extraction and processing of these materials puts out a considerable carbon footprint on the environment. Consumers of these vehicles and services across the world, face a major economic challenge every day, that is whether, and how, to repair their vehicle or get a new component replacement. It is typically an economic decision whether to get a new part or use a refurbished one from a used vehicle. The financial metrics associated with these choices are clear to consumer. But this choice also entails major environmental decisions. These decisions have a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Though consumers are consciously aware of the economic factors, but environmental metrics of that decision, however, are vague at best, and typically unknown.