By Heather Hintze

EUGENE, Ore. -- Northwest Community Credit Union is hoping to save its customer's money and help the environment with its new no idle policy.

Staff say just one branch could prevent 50 pounds of carbon dioxide from going into the air if customers going through the drive-up would turn off their engines while they wait.

Oregon Toxics Alliance also says each person could save nearly $150 each year in fuel costs if they cut their idle time.

Northwest Community Credit Union says this is just another way for the company to continue making green improvements.  "We have a conservation crew and it's a group of employees that have reduced our footprint on the Earth.  And this just fit right in with what we're doing," said Rex Fox, Branch Operations Vice President for Northwest Community Credit Union.

Staff from the department of environmental quality were on hand to check emissions from idling cars in the parking lot.

They found most cars emit carbon dioxide at 100 parts per million.  Up to nine parts per million is considered safe.