Shut it Off!
Want to save money and cut down on air pollution? Shut off your car when you are not going anywhere? Even if it’s just for a few minutes. I’ll never understand this, but almost every time I visit the local gas station/market there’s at least one vehicle parked outside with the engine idling.
If you ever find yourself getting out of your car with it running or are waiting for somebody, please turn the engine off. You may not think it happens often but you do it all the time. Someone runs into the bank or a store or maybe you arrived early to pick someone up. These are great moments to turn off your engine.
The usual excuses just don’t cut it. You can still listen to the radio while the engine is off. If it’s hot out you can open the windows. Maybe in the wintertime it can get pretty cold, but even then if your windows are closed your car should maintain a comfortable temperature for several minutes.
With the current gas rates everyone should be thinking about simple ways to conserve gas. At the same time you can be taking one simple green step.
Don’t miss these related posts:
- Cool Off
- Gas prices aren’t high enough at Things That Make You Go Green
- Kill Your Computer
- Unload for Less Reloads
- Move Some Air
In some cities (Toronto being one of them), you will get a fine if you idle for too long. One day, when electric cars and hybrids are the norm idling will be a thing of the past. Until then, shutting the engine off is the only sensible thing to do!!
CK
Hi CK,
More cities need these laws, but even more importantly we need a way to enforce them. I know down in New York there are idling laws for trucks and busses, but even if you call to report it nothing happens. The way the laws are written, law enforcement must observe the incident, which means they need to wait and watch for the allotted time. Most officers aren’t willing to do such a thing.
What we really need is police officers in urban settings to start driving hybrids. They spend lots of time idling themselves.
I am glad to say that I am faithfully doing this for quite a while already.
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