Vehicle Idling
Background
The practice of leaving a car running while not in use, or idling, has recieved a great deal of attention from environmental groups recently. Idling, however, can be a habit that is very resistant to change. There are a number of myths surrounding why idling a car is necessary, the most common of which is that it will lengthen the life of a car's engine. Studies have shown this to false and that even in extreme cold the best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it.
The Issue
The primary issue with idling is climate change. Carbon dioxide is the primary gas released by idling vehicles and is also one of the main greenhouse gasses causing climate change. It is estimated that if every car in Canada idled for only five minutes a day 1.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide would be released into the atmosphere.
What You Can Do
The simplist thing that you can do is limit the amount of idling you do. If you are already an ildilng minimalist the best thing you can do is pass the message on; many groups, including the Sierra Club, have flyers that can be mailed to you to place on idling vehicles.
Resources
websites to come with internet access.
