Editor:
Increasing fuel costs are making each trip with our vehicles more valuable. One way to maximize the efficiency of every gallon of gasoline we burn is to reduce or eliminate our idling times. Idling cars are not only a waste of this expensive resource, they are a risk to the health of many and a danger to the environment. If you need more reasons to eliminate car idling from your daily habits, keep in mind that these idling cars are getting zero miles to the gallon and idling is actually harmful to today's vehicle engines.
The main myth associated with idling is that the engine should be warmed up before driving. Even in cold weather, idling is not an effective way to warm up your vehicle. Today's vehicles need no more than 30 seconds to warm up. The best way to warm a vehicle is to drive it. An idling car does not operate at its peak temperature so it can actually be damaging to the engine's components including cylinders, spark plugs and exhaust systems.
As these cars sit idling, each gallon of gasoline burned adds 25 pounds of carbon dioxide to the air. Standard estimates hold that idling accounts for about 20 percent of the gasoline we buy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if 145 million passenger vehicles idle for five minutes a day, approximately 4 million gallons of gasoline are consumed. Idling has to be the lamest use of this exhaustible resource.
Many towns have idling ordinances of 10 minutes or less. With today's awareness of environmental issues, expect changes in time limits in most towns. It is actually against Colorado state law to leave an unattended car running.
Idling cars are not only hazardous to your wallet and you vehicle's engine, but also your health and our planet's health. Lead our children into the future by example. In our ever-changing world all it takes is for you to not sit idle and start making changes in your habits.
Dorothy Howard
Glenwood Springs
