The seasons they are a changing

It’s almost that time again when the chill is back in the air and you know the first snowfall is just around the corner. You know it’s true because the fireweed has come and gone with the six week countdown till winter has begun.

We’ve been in Alaska a few years now and I have said several times I will not go another winter without a remote car starter.

For those of you not from Alaska or similar cold-weather state, something that has become a popular car accessory over the last couple of years is a remote starter. It’s similar to a key fob that what you’d use to unlock the doors, except that it also starts your car. It’s nice for -30F days so that you can hit the button and, 10 minutes later when you leave from work, your car or rig is toasty with most of the ice/snow on the windshield melted.

We use a block heater installed in the vehicles to combat the Frigid Alaskan extreme cold weather. This is a must have of all Alaskans who park overnight outside. The mantra in Anchorage is “plug in @ 20” where everyone who doesn’t park in a heated garage should plug in their block heaters to reduce air pollution due to the extreme cold weather.

Studies have shown that plugging-in cuts carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from cold starts by an average of 60%. Plugging-in allows the engine to warm faster. Using block heater also reduces emissions of other air pollutants like hydrocarbons, fine particles and toxic air pollutants.

So much to remember or plan for but with vacation time just around the corner it may be harder to remember last year when outside was bitterly cold. So cold your teeth hurt, your eyes water (and then freeze), no part of your body can get warm, leather seats are freezing, the sn*t freezes in your nose, and you just don’t want to walk anywhere outside . . . but honestly . . . I don’t mind.

That sounds wonderful doesn’t it?

It's about personal comfort - plain and simple. Consider the following:

Early one frigid winter morning I was out for my walk in my neighborhood with Levi my dog when I saw a woman rush out of her house in a housecoat and curlers. She went into her garage and then backed two vehicles out on to her driveway. She left both of them running while she returned to her morning preparations. Given her state of undress, my guess is that at least one of those vehicles would be idling for twenty minutes or more.

I think it is time to break old habits and bring out a little comfort. A remote starter is in the future for the vehicles this winter. It’s too bad there is not another program like the engine block heater one than ran from 2002 to 2006. Remote starter run about $ 350 bucks installed which is why I have put it off the last several years.

It’s time to think about warm summer breezes and enjoying a few days to relax. The winter chill can wait for a bit . . .

Ice