Trucking companies saving money and gas

On a recent trip to Columbus, we saw this elaborate contraption at a truck stop.

Turns out, this is a great way for trucking companies to save money and in the process help reduce carbon emissions which contribute to global warming.

In the past, most truckers in the summer or winter left their trucks idling so that they could take advantage of air conditioning or heat in the cab while they rested on long journeys. With gasoline at $4 a gallon, that habit isn’t a very smart one for their business profits.

The system shown in the picture above, provides heat and a/c to trucks in the lot saving gasoline, saving wear and tear on the vehicles from constant idling, and reducing both air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions.

This particular service is provided by a company called IdleAire, and according to their website visits by truckers has resulted in:

conserving over 15 million gallons of fuel and eliminating over 360 million pounds of diesel emissions, mostly carbon dioxide

The technology is out there to help us both reduce our dependency on foreign oil supplies and help cut back on carbon emissions, it just takes people willing to find business models that work. Have an idea you think will help the “green” economy of our area? Get out there and do it.