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5
Reduce Engine Idle Time

Emission Reduction: 220 (4-cylinder) to 440 (8 cylinder) pounds of C02 a year for reducing just five minutes of idle time each day. The next time you are waiting for a train, dropping a friend off, or sitting in an unmoving traffic jam, shut your engine down until you're ready to go again. According to the EPA, the breaking point where idling time uses less gas than restarting your vehicle is around one minute. The Ford Eco-driving program in Europe claims just 20 seconds. Whether it is 20 seconds or one minute is arguable, but the point is, there is a lot of unnecessary idling going on these days when people are not going anywhere.

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    Start the Countdown
  • 7: Use Parallel Parking
  • 6: Use More Right Turns
  • 5: Reduce Engine Idle Time
  • 4: Turn Your Air Conditioner off Before You Get Where You're Going
  • 3: Switch to Four Day Work Week
  • 2: Slow Down and Smell the Flowers
  • 1: Switch to a Toyota Prius
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