June 7, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Leading auto exec and kids star in campaign to ‘Use Energy Better’ with ‘IDLE-FREE Pace Car’

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

Al MacPhee, veteran auto executive and current chair of The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association , has teamed up with kids to help clear the air on ‘IDLE myths’ this Environment Week.

The main promotional vehicle is the ‘IDLE-FREE Pace Car’ – courtesy of MacPhee’s leasing company in partnership with Efficiency Nova Scotia Corporation and The Children’s Clean Air Network.

As part of the campaign, MacPhee stars in a new YouTube public service announcement with local elementary students, while all ENSC employees took the pledge to go ‘IDLE-FREE for our kids’ at his dealership this week.

The ‘pace car’ and PSA will help drive the message at events in Nova Scotia and pledges via ENSC’s Facebook page (promotional incentives on the page are exclusive to residents of Nova Scotia).

Efficiency Nova Scotia presented an ‘IDLE-FREE for our kids’ hockey jersey signed by all staff to MacPhee, Honourary Chair of the campaign and Ron Zima a.k.a ‘The IDLE-FREE Guy’, founder of The Children’s Clean Air Network.

“100 employee and family vehicles can easily save up to $200 each and as much as a half ton in CO2 every year,” says Zima. “That’s $20,000 that stays in their pockets. Imagine what 1,000 Nova Scotians or 10,000 Canadians could save by going ‘IDLE-FREE for our kids’. The numbers really add up.”

“Driving is such a big part of our every day operations – it makes perfect sense for our employees to carry this message as we help Nova Scotians use energy better,” says Bill Turpin, Residential Program Manager for Efficiency Nova Scotia. “It’s so simple – yet many of us need reminding. When we’re parked and it makes sense, go ‘IDLE-FREE for our kids’.” 

“I am delighted to have Efficiency Nova Scotia embrace our effort,” says MacPhee.

One of Canada’s leading auto executives for over 40 years, MacPhee says motorists across the country should consider the new driving habit. “Let’s do this for our kids,” MacPhee says. “Today’s technology doesn’t need a lot of IDLE-time, we need to make that clear.”

“Cars and trucks are only a small piece of the emissions pie, however our industry play a huge leadership role by inspiring this one small habit,” he says. “When you’re parked and it makes sense – turn the engine off. Together, we can save at least one $Billion dollars at the pump, hundreds of thousands of tons of emissions, and help clear the air in cities across Canada.”