how 'green' is 'green'?

from american expedition vehicles:

It seems as if everybody is trying to be more “green” these days. Terms like “conservation”, “sustainability” and certainly “energy” have seen a dramatic increase in popularity. Trendy or not, all of this attention is opening the eyes of many Americans to different ways that we can do our part to optimize our lives and conserve resources.

So, just how “Green” is our beloved Wrangler? The answer may surprise you.

One of the first places that many people begin to take note of their own consumption is behind the wheel of an automobile. Nearly everyone has seen an article that notes the various ways to conserve car-related resources and fuel. Making sure your tires are properly inflated, replacing your fuel filter, or simply driving slower will all help you increase your mileage and decrease your time spent pumping gas. Many people are taking this a step further and ditching their low Mile-Per-Gallon rigs for something they can brag about around the water cooler. Sales of hybrid vehicles are soaring and 40+ overall MPG looks to be just the beginning of what this new class of vehicles are capable of. It’s an exciting new chapter in automotive history, but everything comes with a catch.

These high MPG cars take a lot of energy and resources to create.

According to a 2006 study by the firm CNW Marketing & Research, The Toyota Prius (over its lifetime) will consume nearly 5.5 times as much energy as - you’ll never guess - the mighty Jeep TJ Wrangler. In fact, the Jeep Wrangler landed in 3rd place, in the US, as one of the cars that requires the least energy to produce (and operate) with the least environmental impact. CNW Research’s study tracked and calculated the energy cost of each car model sold in the U.S. in 2005 from initial concept to the projected time the vehicle would be scrapped. They call this the “Dust-to-Dust” value and it incorporates a great number of factors including: cost of producing raw materials, material transportation, cost of factory employees (and their own transportation to work), energy costs at the factory, cost of disposal, etc., etc.

While there is absolutely no reason to argue against investing in technology that increases gas mileage, it’s rewarding to note that our TJ Wrangler is one of the most efficiently produced vehicles on the planet. Plus, our passionate Jeep-lovin’ community provides a built-in recycling program. You’ll never see a bunch of old Jeeps lying around the junkyard or landfill. Somewhere, someone, is dying to get their hands on your Jeep for their next project.

any thoughts or expertise on the matter?