The government just came out with its new fuel effeciency standards: an average 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. They are 10 mpg higher than current standards, but is the government moving fast enough (or too fast)?

My car now gets about 35 mpg. So did my last car, bought in 1991.

The move will also raise the cost of cars, according to this Associated Press story, though consumers will make up that and a lot more in fuel over the life of the vehicle. The story says consumer will pay $434 extra in 2012 and $926 extra in 2016, but the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation estimate savings on gas at more than $3,000.

Improvements are expected in engines, transmissions and tires. And more hybrids and electric cars are expected to be in the mix, such as Nissan Leafs and Chevrolet Volts.

Environmentalist seem pleased. And so do car makers, who didn't like the state-by-state approach on standards that was evolving. What about you?

Also, what do you make of another government announcement on effeciency: for water heaters, pool heaters and gas fireplaces. The Department of Energy says the standards will save consumer $10 billion and prevent up to 164 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emmissions over the next three decades. Thats the equivalent to taking 46 million cars off the road for a year.

The standards will decrease energy use in large electric storage water heaters by 47 percent and by more than 30 percent in large gas water heaters.  They will go into effect in 2015, while the standards for pool heaters and gas fireplaces will apply in 2013. 

AP photo of the Leaf