carbon footprint

In March, 2009, in Mumbai, India the Tata Nano launched to much fanfare. At 100,000 rupees ($1985 at the time), it’s the world’s least expensive car. Another impressive number: 65 miles per gallon.

The four-door Nano is a little over 10 feet long, about five feet wide (think twin bed), and powered by a 33 horsepower engine that can get the car up to 65 miles per hour. It’s sturdy too: the Nano just surprised quite a few doubters by passing European crash tests (shown in the video). The vehicle will still have to pass American safety and emission standards, modifications scheduled for completion by 2011 or early 2012. It's likely to be the cheapest car on the lot, and probably the most fuel-efficient. (The Smart Fortwo clocks in at 41 mpg; you can watch it crash here. However, buyers of what Tata has dubbed “the People’s Car” will have to do without power steering, air conditioning (except in the luxury model), and trunk space for anything much bigger than a lunchbox. Will the gas mileage and eco-points make the Nano irresistible in the land of the muscle car?

One whole wall of the Climate Change exhibition is devoted to the Multiplier Effect: an interactive display that shows how individual actions can combine to make a real dent in our carbon footprint. What kind of change makes the most sense for the way you live? What if you drove less? Or planted a tree, or changed to energy-efficient light bulbs? What would happen to CO2 levels if more people joined you? Even more? Have fun with this cool interactive and find out the answers.