4398 Ohio has dirty cars

In Ohio we're used to dirty cars. I may run my van through a car wash 4 or 5 times a year, especially if we need rain. The van is gray, the asphalt is gray, the sky is gray--you hardly even notice the dirt. In California and Florida where the weather is 50-90% better, the cars are spotless. Maybe dirt shows up more on sunny days.

On the left coast where cars are king, they're starting to notice that you can get from point A to point B in a dirty car just like we do in fly-over country. The WSJ reported that 30-40 million gallons of urban run off in Santa Monica Bay is from car washing. Now it's the eco-mites vs. the clean-car buffs. Following the carbon footprint steps, city governments and non-profits are now selling coupons to allow the owner to use a commercial carwash.

Will the car owner emit more carbon when he puts on weight from the lack of exercise he got hand washing and polishing his car?

Fabulous 50s photo from www.godblessamericana.com/2004-01-15/