Comments on: American Idling – If You’re Gonna Use The Drive-thru, Turn off the Engine! http://www.alittlegreenereveryday.com/2008/06/american-idling-if-youre-gonna-use.html Some useful information, some anecdotes, some rantings, and some inspiration <br>from my quest to make my family and perhaps the world around me A Little Greener Every Day Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:42:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Robin Shreeves http://www.alittlegreenereveryday.com/2008/06/american-idling-if-youre-gonna-use.html/comment-page-1#comment-153 Robin Shreeves Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:47:00 +0000 http://aged.shreeves.net/2008/06/american-idling-if-youre-gonna-use-the-drive-thru-turn-off-the-engine.html#comment-153 I've been reading that SUV's are becoming stigmas, not status symbols, but I'm sure that's not the case in all parts of the country. Around here, my friends are talking about getting rid of them as soon as possible. <br/><br/>But, I think that many people don't even think about the fact that they are idling. It's such an ingrained habit. Couple the habit with the fact that our dad's taught us it uses more gas to start your engine than to idle it for a while, and it's going to take a while before it's the norm to turn it off, not idle.<br/><br/>So, how can we get people to stop idling without sounding like obnoxious, eco-nazi's? I’ve been reading that SUV’s are becoming stigmas, not status symbols, but I’m sure that’s not the case in all parts of the country. Around here, my friends are talking about getting rid of them as soon as possible.

But, I think that many people don’t even think about the fact that they are idling. It’s such an ingrained habit. Couple the habit with the fact that our dad’s taught us it uses more gas to start your engine than to idle it for a while, and it’s going to take a while before it’s the norm to turn it off, not idle.

So, how can we get people to stop idling without sounding like obnoxious, eco-nazi’s?

]]> By: Allison http://www.alittlegreenereveryday.com/2008/06/american-idling-if-youre-gonna-use.html/comment-page-1#comment-151 Allison Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:31:00 +0000 http://aged.shreeves.net/2008/06/american-idling-if-youre-gonna-use-the-drive-thru-turn-off-the-engine.html#comment-151 I live where your status symbol is the huge SUV you drive. So about half the pick up line at my kids' school is gas hogs. And what do they do for the 15-20 minutes while waiting for their kids? IDLE! I can understand sometimes when it is hotter than h*ll and it does get that way here. But what about the other 300 days of the year? <br/>I was wondering if the new status symbol is to say "I can idle my engine in my Hummer because I can afford the gas." I live where your status symbol is the huge SUV you drive. So about half the pick up line at my kids’ school is gas hogs. And what do they do for the 15-20 minutes while waiting for their kids? IDLE! I can understand sometimes when it is hotter than h*ll and it does get that way here. But what about the other 300 days of the year?
I was wondering if the new status symbol is to say “I can idle my engine in my Hummer because I can afford the gas.”

]]> By: Robin Shreeves http://www.alittlegreenereveryday.com/2008/06/american-idling-if-youre-gonna-use.html/comment-page-1#comment-148 Robin Shreeves Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:17:00 +0000 http://aged.shreeves.net/2008/06/american-idling-if-youre-gonna-use-the-drive-thru-turn-off-the-engine.html#comment-148 Hee - seriously, you don't have drive-thru banks? They've been around as long as I can remember. Other things we have an option to drive-thru here in America:<br/><br/>dry cleaners<br/>pharmacies<br/>coffee shops (Dunkin Donuts was a lifesaver when my kids were really little - I'd drive thru and get them plain bagels without having to take them out of their 500 point harness car seats)<br/>fast food (of course)<br/>beer and other beverage centers (although we don't have any in my area)<br/><br/>I'm sure I'm forgetting something.<br/><br/>Pick yourself off the floor, Seriously, this is the U.S. after all. Convenience is king (but I'm working to change that!). Hee – seriously, you don’t have drive-thru banks? They’ve been around as long as I can remember. Other things we have an option to drive-thru here in America:

dry cleaners
pharmacies
coffee shops (Dunkin Donuts was a lifesaver when my kids were really little – I’d drive thru and get them plain bagels without having to take them out of their 500 point harness car seats)
fast food (of course)
beer and other beverage centers (although we don’t have any in my area)

I’m sure I’m forgetting something.

Pick yourself off the floor, Seriously, this is the U.S. after all. Convenience is king (but I’m working to change that!).

]]> By: Despairing http://www.alittlegreenereveryday.com/2008/06/american-idling-if-youre-gonna-use.html/comment-page-1#comment-147 Despairing Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:39:00 +0000 http://aged.shreeves.net/2008/06/american-idling-if-youre-gonna-use-the-drive-thru-turn-off-the-engine.html#comment-147 You have drive-thru banks???<br/><br/>No, really, you have drive-thru banks???<br/><br/>My flabber has been gasted!<br/><br/>You could always ask the bank to put up a sign next to the window saying "Thank you for turning off your engine"<br/><br/>(When I was in Australia, I was fascinated by their drive-thru "bottle shops" - alcohol stores where your beer was loaded into the trunk for you and you didn't need to get out the car.) You have drive-thru banks???

No, really, you have drive-thru banks???

My flabber has been gasted!

You could always ask the bank to put up a sign next to the window saying “Thank you for turning off your engine”

(When I was in Australia, I was fascinated by their drive-thru “bottle shops” – alcohol stores where your beer was loaded into the trunk for you and you didn’t need to get out the car.)

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