November 1, 2010

With the weather starting to get colder, you may want to warm up your car before getting in it and getting going for the day. However, would you still take time to make your car, truck or van nice and toasty before heading off to school or work if you knew that idling is not only bad for your car, but it also emits harmful greenhouse gases?

Just one gallon of gas burned releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions come from cars and trucks, making them the single largest source of these toxic emissions on the planet. Idling is one wasteful practice that causes our autos to continue to harm the environment.

Other times when you may idle in your vehicle include on bridges during a bridge lift, at railroad crossings, in front of schools, or when you pull over to talk or text on your phone. In all these cases, it is better to turn on off your car if you are going to be standing still for more than 10 seconds. Your car actually uses less fuel to restart than to be idle for longer than 10 seconds.

Other ways you can help prevent greenhouse gas emissions caused by idling vehicles include warming up your car in the morning for 30 seconds or less, and telling your friends and neighbors about the harmful effects of idling.

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