Stewardship Tip Oct 19th, 2010- Warm up slowly
In many parts of North America, the temperatures will plummet soon. When they do, the morning ritual will include a trip to the car or truck to get it started and let it warm up.
There was a time when it was not uncommon to start the car, turn the defrost on full, and let it run for several minutes. The indicator of a warm car? The windows had completely defrosted.
An idle engine, though, gets zero miles per gallon. Letting the car warm up for long periods makes no sense financially nor does it make sense from a conservation point of view.
Rather than letting your car or truck idle for several minutes, let it warm up for thirty seconds, then start driving slowly. Drive slowly for several minutes to let the engine warm up to operating temperature.
Why it is important for the fish: Under the high pressure and temperature conditions in an engine, nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the air react to form various nitrogen oxides, collectively known as NOx. Nitrogen oxides, like hydrocarbons, contribute to the formation of acid rain.
Acid rain has had a dramatic affect on areas of the Eastern United States. It has devastated Moose Lake, located in the Southwest corner of Adirondack Park. According to the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, trout populations in the lake have declined dramatically over the past 50 years. Moreover, water samples, collected monthly, indicate only a slight improvement in pH and acid neutralizing capacity since 1982.
When we reduce the amount of time that our cars warm up in the morning, we reduce emissions such as nitrogen oxides. This helps to reduce acid rain. Ultimately, that helps our fish.
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