HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-12 Idling is Not the Way to Go Handout Idling Is Not the Way To Go
Idling your vehicle truly gets you nowhere. It
increases our dependence on petroleum, reduces f '�
the fuel economy of your vehicle, costs you money,
produces pollutants, and wastes precious natural VVV
resources. Researchers estimate that idling from y
heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles combined
wastes about 6 billion gallons of fuel annually. 6P,
idle fr°s
When you make an effort to turn off your vehicle,
you're on track to doing something better for
yourself, your wallet, your environment, and Likewise,when waiting for passengers,consider the weather.
your community. If the temperature is moderate,turning off your engine is a
good idea.Remembering this point is especially important
Modern Cars Don't Need to Idle while waiting to pick up school children,because parents'
idling vehicles can reduce air quality.Unnecessary idling
Advances in vehicle technology have eliminated much of around schools can contribute to asthma and other ailments,
the need for idling,making it easier than ever to avoid. as children's lungs are more susceptible to damage than
Computerized controls in today's vehicles bring the engine adults'bodies.
and catalyst up to their operating temperatures more
quickly when the vehicle is moving than when it is idling. Unfortunately,there are a few circumstances where idling
The catalytic converter that reduces emissions also operates is unavoidable.You must keep your car running for safety
much sooner if the car is driven right away rather than idled. reasons when waiting in traffic jams. Similarly,when it is
Even on the coldest day,it takes a modern vehicle less than 5 time for emissions testing of your vehicle,your inspection
minutes to warm the engine if the car is moving.In contrast, station may require you to idle so that your engine is up to its
it takes the engine almost twice as long to warm up if the car operating temperature.
is merely idling.In moderate weather,the catalytic converter
can even maintain its operating temperature and immediately Idling Can Even Be Illegal
resume emissions reduction if the driver restarts the car for As if money wasted and pollution out the tailpipe aren't bad
up to 30 minutes after he or she turns off the ignition. enough,some jurisdictions in the United States have laws
against idling of passenger vehicles.
Similarly,today's gasoline and diesel vehicles alike do not
suffer damage from turning the key on and off.Starters and You could actually be subject to a fine if an enforcement
batteries are much more durable than people believed they officer sees you idling unnecessarily in:
were in the past.In fact,today's owner's manuals,which • The District of Columbia
usually contain information on how to get the best and most
economical performance,generally do not recommend idling. • Hawaii ARKIN
ANrr1ME -
• Massachusetts R C';
Consider Your Circumstances ENFORCED
Idling can often be avoided,but there are a few circumstances Maine
where it is acceptable. • Maryland ATTENTIONS
y IDLING OF
MOTOR
Drive-through lines are a common • New Jersey PROHIBITED
place for vehicles to idle.If the line
at the drive-through restaurant or • Rhode Island
(04e an bank is long,you should consider . Utah
turning off your car while you
Cities
wait.Or,you can park and go into • Parts of Colorado,Missouri,
U.S.Department of Energy the building. and New York State.
VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM • JANUARY 2012 • PAGE 2
UU.S.Environmental
Protection Agency's
NO IDLE LAW __ Clean School Bus USA Turn off
program has many links
Y 0 U IDLE NO-IDLE that can help parents
YOU PAY ZONE and school districts your engine
CLEAN AIR ZONE Maximum Fine-E2.000 �n�lA
reduce idling(www.epa.
gov/cleanschoolbus).In
addition to improving r r����
IDLE-FREE air quality,reducing aj
���.. ZONE -- i; unnecessary idling can
ID�H6
MUNG save school districts Clean Air Zone
money through reduced
fuel cost and engine
Protect our children - ' _ •• wear.
Turn of your engine
Each Citizen Can Contribute
Once you have a better idea of why people idle,it's easy to
Solutions Do Exist question when idling is really necessary.There are a number
For consumers,the best technology that can help reduce of ways that citizens can reduce their own idling and
idling beyond your own actions is driving a hybrid vehicle. encourage smart,responsible behavior in their communities.
A hybrid shuts off the engine when stationary,and enables
slow movement with the engine off,so there are no emissions Contact your local Clean Cities coalition. Local
from the tailpipe while waiting.As hybrid vehicles gain a partnerships,with support from the U.S.Department
larger market share,there could be fewer vehicles that idle of Energy,have run
unnecessarily. anti-idling campaigns.
Find the coalition
However,idling as a problem extends beyond consumer nearest you at -
vehicles.Reducing idling in a number of community vehicles, www.cleancities.energy.gov. '
such as police cruisers,school buses,taxis,and ambulances,
can bring even bigger benefits.While emergency vehicles Talk to the principal "
(ambulances,police cars,and fire engines)are almost always of your child's school
exempt from anti-idling regulations,there is equipment to ask that anti-idling ,
that can be added to these vehicles to prevent idling while signs be posted where to b- i n g
providing power and comfort.Ambulances can plug in at school buses and parents' l
hospitals to keep equipment running,police cars can use vehicles wait.
automatic start-stop devices or supplementary power sources,
and school buses can use block heaters to warm the engines to Work with your school
operating temperatures in the morning. board on a district-wide
anti-idling campaign. �
School Buses Offer Unique Opportunities Talk to the manager
As parents are often concerned about poor air quality of your bank,drive-
around their children's school,many anti-idling campaigns through restaurant,or },
have targeted diesel-powered school buses. School districts pharmacy about ways t "•'
nationwide have responded to these campaigns by passing to reduce wait times in
regulations and training drivers on idle-reduction techniques. line as a way to reduce
There are numerous sources of information on designing a idling. Suggest that signs
campaign that works for your school,many of which teachers be posted to remind �1
can use as environmental education teaching tools.The patrons not to idle.
U.S.DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY
Energy Efficiency & www.eere.energy.gov
Renewable Energy D• .• - January 2012