Recent Green Weeks:
September 5:
Cook More Efficiently
August 29:
Use Cold Water for Laundry
August 22:
Find New Uses for Old Phones
August 8:
"Bee" Kind to Pollinators: Limit or Avoid Pesticide Use
August 1:
Reduce Waste: End Junk Mail!
July 25:
Encourage Pollination: Help Bees!
July 18:
Use Less Oil: Walk or Bike at Least Once this Week Instead of Driving
July 11:
Water Lawns and Outdoor Plants in the Morning or Evening Only
July 4:
Practice Safe Souvenir Buying
June 20:
Reuse Paper Scraps
June 13:
Safely Dispose of Hazardous Wastes
June 6:
Give New Life to Old Stuff
May 30:
Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaners
May 23:
Find Ways to Consume Less
May 16:
Reuse your food scraps and yard waste: make compost!
May 9:
Make Sure Your Seafood's Sustainable
May 2:
Use a Low Flow Showerhead
April 25:
Reduce Weight in your Vehicle
April 18:
Use a Reusable Water Bottle
April 11:
Switch to Fluorescent Bulbs
April 4:
Buy in Bulk
March 28:
Unplug Your Appliances When They're Not in Use!
March 21:
Turn Off Your Engine Instead of Idling Your Car
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Idea of the Week: Turn Your Car Off Instead of Idling
What to do:
Whenever you're stopped in your car for 30 seconds, turn off your engine. This could be when you're waiting for someone, in line at a drive-through, stopped at a drawbridge... all of these times add up!
Warming up your car on a cold day is a form of idling, too. Check your user manual to see if it recommends idling on cold days.
Most newer cars do not need warm-up idling.
Why it Helps the Earth:
The more you run your car, the more gas it uses! Idling gets you a grand total of 0 miles per gallon.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency,
burning a gallon of gasoline emits 19.4 lbs. of carbon dioxide. So, over time, idling can add up to 100s of pounds of Co2 emissions.
What the Research Says:
Many organizations and government agencies have released information about the harmful effects of idling,
including Washington State's Department of Ecology, and California Energy Comission's Consumer Energy Center.
Why it Helps You:
Idling your car not only wastes expensive gas and creates unhealthy exhaust: it also causes wear and tear on your car! Even if you have to restart your car frequently, turning off your car
instead of idling is a better option. For a detailed description of why idling is bad for your car, check out Make a Leap's Idling Myths and Facts page.
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Last Revision: July 6, 2010