Check out my new entry - Change 134

I guess since I started this before I left for Disney, Blogger assumes I want it published under the original writing date, instead of today's date.  Ah, the joys of technology!  ;)

Update

Hi everyone!  I promise I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth....just a very busy mom, wife, volunteer, daughter, social planner, chauffeur, administrator and vacation planner. 

We just got back from a week at Disney - there is an eco-adventure in itself.  No, I did not carbon offset our travel, although I did try to follow many of my eco-friendly habits while away.

After taking a month away from the blog (albeit unintentionally), I am refreshed and ready to tackle the next challenges.  I am also planning to change the format of the blog a bit.  There will be more posts with commentary or observations about environmental change (mine and others), as well as assorted tidbits of info.  Don't worry - I'll also talk about all the changes we continue to make as a family.

Until next time.....

Turn off car in drive-thru (Change 134)

As mentioned in previous posts, I don't use the drive-thru option very often.  Usually, I have the kids in tow, making a quick zip through the bank or coffee shop much easier than lugging them in and out of the van.  Like everyone else, I sit there, car running, inching forward little by little, until it's my turn at the window.

About a month ago, I drove to the car wash.  It was beautiful out - I'd just cleaned and vacuumed the inside of the van.  It was sparkling inside, and I wanted it sparkling outside.  And, while the weather was nice, it was not warm enough that I wanted to wash it myself!  So off to the car wash I went.  There were three other vehicles in front of me waiting, all with engines running.

I had a light bulb go off in my head.  I wouldn't run the van while running into the store for a minute.  Why was I idling when I was in the car wash line?

Looking around, and feeling a little silly, I shut the van off.  The guy in the car behind me shot me a look, like he thought I was weird.  As the car in the wash left and the new one entered, I turned my van back on, inched forward and shut it off again.  This processed continued until it was my turn in the car wash.

Looking back on it, I save myself about 20 minutes of idling.  That's a lot of gas and carbon emissions.  I wasn't cold sitting in the van, although I'm not sure I'd want to do this when it is -20C out. 

I've even applied the "no idling" rule to the bank machine drive-thru and any place where I have to wait to pick someone up or drop someone off. 

Another small change to help our environment.