Idle Wise

Although the idea of simple idling is appealing (now and then), it's never a good idea to do so in your car. Late model cars don't belch as many noxious fumes as those of yesteryear (which means simply that they don't smell as much), but they still emit pollutants.

"I need to get in the habit of turning off the ignition when I'm not going anywhere. I know it's wasteful but I tend to forget to do it," says Maddie Ames, a college student who grew up in Westport.

According to a study conducted by Texas A&M University, Americans burn almost 3 billion gallons a year while idling their cars. The cost of that waste is a staggering $78 billion annually.

How long is too long where running your unmoving vehicle is concerned? While you don't want to shut down the engine at each stop sign, you should kill your engine while you're depositing a check at the drive-through bank, or ordering (gasp) a deluxe cheeseburger at your local fast-food emporium. In fact, the Environmental Defense Fund determined that idling your car for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than is required to restart the ignition.

Finally, if you've fallen into the habit of starting your car and letting it idle for five or 10 minutes before driving off, get over it. Late model cars don't need to warm up. Just start your engine and go.

Go to thedailygreen for more information about saving gas (and saving the planet while you're at it).

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