Green Star, based in Anchorage, is a nonprofit group that encourages waste reduction, conservation and pollution prevention. The timer giveaway is aimed at helping to improve the municipality's air quality during winter. Green Star encourages plugging cars in for two or three hours when the temperature is 20 degrees or colder. This helps to improve fuel efficiency, decrease carbon monoxide emissions by 60 percent and reduce engine wear.

For more information or to ask questions about air quality issues, call Green Star at 278-STAR or contact them by e-mail at info@greenstarinc.org or go to www.plugat20.org.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, November 3, 2005.