“Turn your engine off for our air” signs available again

It was about five years ago when Wildsight’s first “Turn Your Engine off for Our Air” signs began popping up in Kimberley and Cranbrook.

“We’re still getting calls from businesses, schools and other organizations asking where they can get signs so we’ve had more signs printed” said Erna Jensen Shill, Wildsight Kimberley/ Cranbrook Clean Air and Climate Change Program Manager.

“I think there’s been a reduction in idling over the past years as more people become aware that it is an unnecessary habit that is bad for our air and contributes to climate change, but we’ve still got a ways to go”.

According to Natural Resources Canada, Canadians idle to warm up their cars in the winter time, but contrary to popular belief, excessive idling is not an effective way to warm up your vehicle, even in cold weather. The best way to warm your car up is to drive it. In fact, with the efficiency of today's computer-controlled engines, the only reason to let the car idle at all is to get the oil circulating, but after 30 seconds, that's done. Idling vehicles negatively impacts our local air quality, and increases fuel consumption and GHG emissions.

“With all of the interest in vehicle fuel efficiency these days, it is worth noting that idling gets ZERO miles to the gallon!” said Jensen-Shill.

Drivers idle while waiting for passengers, stopping at railroad crossings, running quick errands, sitting in drive-through lanes and when stopping to talk to friends or neighbours. In any of these instances, idling over 10 seconds is a case for switching off the ignition.

Information on how Kimberley and Cranbrook businesses and organizations can get a "Turn your engine off for our air" sign is available by contacting Jensen-Shill. erna@wildsight.ca or 250 427-9360.