Anti-Idling
VOICE-OVER:
See anything wrong with this picture?
How about now?
ON CAMERA NARRATION:
Whether you're walking down a busy street filled with traffic or strolling in your own neighbourhood where remote car starters have been activated, we've all experienced the effects of idling. So, what exactly is wrong with idling?
VOICE-OVER:
First, it's a waste of fuel and money.
Idling a vehicle for 10 minutes a day uses an average of 100 litres of gas a year. With the rising cost of fuel, you can save a lot of money by simply turning off your car.
Second, idling affects air quality and health.
Health Canada estimates that more than 5,000 Canadians die prematurely each year because of air pollution. Children are particularly vulnerable because they breathe faster than adults and inhale more air per pound of body weight.
Third, idling contributes to climate change.
If every driver in Canada avoided idling for just five minutes in a day, we would prevent more than 4500 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
When it comes to your own vehicle, it's a common myth that restarting is hard on the engine. In reality, frequent restarting has little impact whereas excessive idling can actually damage your engine's components. Idling your vehicle for more than 10 seconds also uses more fuel than restarting.
ON CAMERA NARRATION:
Reducing idling is easy. It's as simple as turning the key. If you'd like more information on idling and its effects, check out the Anti-Idling Web site at oee.nrcan.gc.ca/idling
Here you'll find all kinds of information that can help you maintain the health of your vehicle, and the health of our environment.
