Reducing unnecessary engine idling is something we can all immediately do to minimize our contributions to greenhouse gases –the gases responsible for the climatic warming we are experiencing on earth. In preparation for the winter season here are a few engine idling do’s and don’ts – well mostly don’ts actually. We like to think of it as Engine Idling 101.
School Parking Lots
It’s 8:15 (or 3:15) and little Molly and Billy are getting dropped off for school. It will only take a minute, right? Wrong. While you are waiting to drop off/pick up the kiddies – turn your engine off. Your little ones are even more vulnerable to engine emissions than adults. Natural Resources Canada reports children are especially susceptible to carbon emissions due to their developing lungs and need to take in oxygen at an increased rate; exposing them to increased amounts of particulate matter is believed to cause respiratory related illnesses. Often, school parking lots are hot spots for idling vehicles – as caregivers drop off and pick up children in early morning (when children are arriving) and afternoon (when children are leaving). Statistics show that parents participate in unnecessary engine idling more than any other group. Turn it off mommy!
We have all seen it; the powerful business man/woman in their enormous SUV pulled over at the side of the road, gesticulating wildly while talking into the cellphone, while their vehicle belches unnecessary emissions into the atmosphere.
Talking With Friends
We’ve all done it, we are driving along and we see someone we know, so we stop to chat. We think we'll only be a minute, but there is so much to catch up on (Cynthia’s divorce, the price of organic veg at the local supermarket, what we did over the summer…). A minute quickly becomes five, five minutes becomes ten minutes. Turn your engine off when you stop to chat to a friend. Every minute a vehicle is left idling it is producing greenhouse gases. One liter of gas or 30 minutes of idling, needlessly emits about 2.3kg of C02.
Cellphone Calls
We have all seen it; the powerful business man/woman in their enormous SUV pulled over at the side of the road, gesticulating wildly while talking into their cellphone, while their vehicle belches unnecessary emissions into the atmosphere. If you need to broker some high power deal or just gossip with your girlfriends, turn your engine off. It really doesn’t add anything to your image to be shouting into your cellphone while pumping emissions into clean air.
Construction Zones
In construction zones, individuals more than three cars back from the construction zone should turn their engines off while stationary. Natural Resources Canada reports ‘...frequent restarting has little impact on engine parts such as the battery and starter motor. The wear on components that restarting the engine causes adds about $10 a year to the cost of driving – money that you'll likely recover several times over in fuel savings from reduced idling’. Sounds like a great deal – an extra $10 bucks a year to prevent greenhouse gases from filling the atmosphere.
Drive-through Restaurants
When did our car become our mobile home? We use it as a restaurant, an office, we use drive throughs for banking and picking up our dry-cleaning and now we are too lazy to get out of our car to get a cup of coffee. We really have got to get rid of drive-through windows for individuals that are capable of walking into the restaurant to order their coffee or meal. However, if you are going to insist upon utilizing the decadent convenience of the drive through, turn your vehicle off while waiting in the line-up.
There is no scientific evidence that an idling engine does anything for the appearance of masculinity. In fact, the converse is true, insecure men are more likely to drive big vehicles and probably idle as well.
Mail Pick Up
In rural locations all mail is delivered to a central mailbox where, unfortunately, many individuals leave their engines idling while picking up/dropping off mail. There is always the guy/gal that somehow manages to maneuver their vehicle perfectly so they can reach out their vehicle window and open the mailbox. Although I admire their precision, turning the engine off makes more sense for the environment. If you need a reminder then put your mailbox key on the same key-ring as your car ignition key which will force you to turn off the engine to get your mail.
Quick Errands
Although leaving your car running while you drop off a video or dash into the convenience store to do a quick errand might not seem like a significant contribution to climate change, all unnecessary idling creates greenhouse gases. Anyway, what’s the big deal? Turn your engine off. The missus or the little ones are not going to freeze if they are sitting in a tepid car for four minutes. If your loved ones are so sensitive to cold, consider putting a blanket in the car for those few moments when the car heater is temporarily turned off. Trust me, they'll survive.
Most modern engines need no more than 30 seconds of idling on a winter day to warm up.
Ferry Terminals
We know the drill, yet for some reason we all seem to panic at the terminal. Maybe we are afraid of missing the boat or worried about our car not starting. These deep-seated fears cause a lot of unnecessary engine idling. Why is it that when the announcement is made to load the ferry, individuals more than 30 cars away from loading start their engines? I don’t know about you, but I have never seen a car stalled and blocking ferry traffic. Maybe some therapy would help with the fears.
Warming Up Cars
Engines have changed over the years. Rather than needing 10 minutes to warm up, most modern engines need no more than 30 seconds of idling on a winter day to warm up. In fact, the best way to warm up a cold engine is to drive it.
The Macho Idling Man
Lastly, I think the category of Macho Idling Man needs a special mention. This is the guy who refuses to believe climate change is real and thinks his idling big truck somehow reinforces his masculinity. I am not sure how these rumors get started and why they catch on so quickly, but there is no scientific evidence that an idling engine does anything for the appearance of masculinity. In fact, the converse is true, insecure men are more likely to drive big vehicles and probably idle as well. So the jig is up - leaving a big truck idling while your talk with your buddies or deliver packages makes you look like a dork.
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