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Anti-Idling Taking Action
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Anti-Idling Taking Action
Most Canadians idle their vehicle for 5-10 minutes a day. Here are the main reasons why idling is a big problem:
Idling produces pollution. Idling creates unnecessary pollution that is released into our environment, contributing to smog and poor air quality. - Idling affects our health. Health Canada estimates that over 5,000 Canadians die prematurely each year due to air pollution. Children the elderly and those with respiratory problems are most sensitive to poor air quality.
- Idling affects our environment. The extra pollution created by idling contributes to climate change - putting Canada's forests and water supplies at risk, and endangering plant and animal species.
- Idling wastes fuel and money. Idling a vehicle gets you 0.0 kilometres per litre fuel economy. Ten minutes of idling a day wastes an average of 100 litres of fuel a year.
You'll save money - Idling a vehicle for 10 minutes a day uses up more than 100 litres of gas a year. If gas costs $1.10 a litre, you'll save $110 per year (on your personal vehicle), just by turning your key.
You'll breathe more easily - By turning your engine off when parked, you and others around you - such as children and people with respiratory problems - won't have to breathe in unhealthy exhaust fumes from a vehicle that is going nowhere.
You'll spare our climate and air - You will reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to problems such as climate change and smog, and help achieve Canada's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 6 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.
You'll also reduce wear and tear on your engine.
Fast Facts that will Save you Money on Fuel
Vehicle Operation
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Aggressive driving tactics. like over - acceleration and sharp braking on a regular basis, not only put unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle, but also increase the level of auto emissions in the atmosphere.
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Idling your vehicle with the air conditioner on (to keep the interior cool) can increase emissions by 13%. Use your car's air conditioner as little as possible, as it uses more than 4 litres of gasoline for each full tank you burn.
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Don't carry unnecessary excess weight in the trunk of your car. Excess weight increases fuel consumption and adds emissions to the atmosphere.
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Plan errands to make several stops, rather than making several trips. This shortens total distance and keeps the car's catalytic converter hot for the whole trip. The catalytic converter is most effective when it's hot, so you pollute less after 10 minutes of operation.
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Don't waste fuel by sitting in the drive-through lane at your favourite fast-food outlet. Park and go inside instead.
Vehicle Purchase
- Visit Natural Resource Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings webpage to search for the most efficient passenger vehicles sold in Canada.
- Consider the purchase of a hybrid or alternative vehicle. The Ministry of Environment provides information on Provincial tax breaks for new alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrids.
- Consider the purchase of a conventional vehicle with a manual transmission. A manual transmission with overdrive, combined with a tachometer or shift indicator, uses 5 to 10% less fuel compared to automatic transmission, especially in small cars having a four-cylinder engine.
