Now that America has transitioned from warm weather to colder temperatures,  civilians greet their cold and frigid cars every morning. Their first instinct may be to get in and start up the car engine till the frost disappears. While it may not seem as consequential, leaving a car idling has more consequences than benefits. 

Global warming is at an all-time high in 2023, with the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) finding that there is greater than a 99 percent chance that 2023 will rank the warmest year on record. As car owners, it is necessary to steer clear of any contributions to global warming as we can. 

When idling your car, you are burning more oil than normal, which harms our environment. Choosing to let your car idle causes the exhaust system of a car to push more emissions into the atmosphere, which contributes to air pollution. For each gallon of gas burned, more than 20 pounds of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. 

With unleaded gas prices rising nearly 20 percent at the beginning of 2023, saving your gas is more important than ever. Ilding your car can lose more gas than most people realize. While it varies from car to car based on weight, engine size and the type of fuel it takes, idling takes up one-half of a gallon of fuel per hour. 

Not only does the cost of gas add up with how much a driver can lose within an hour, but there are also several negative impacts on the car itself when it idles. When you leave your car engine on, you are draining your car’s battery, causing your car to die quicker and potentially leave you stranded. 

To stop excessive idling, turning off the car’s ignition for 10 seconds when stopped shortly can go a long way. In the winter, warming up your engine along with the car’s interior by driving it will put an end to the effects of idling. Drive safely this fall!