Idle-Free VT Home

VERMONT IDLING NEWS UPDATES

The American Lung Association formally launches Vermont Idle-Free Fleets campaign with press release and email "blast" to fleet operators.

LEGISLATURE

H.97--an act relating to the idling of motor vehicles gets extensive testimony and debete in legislature. Check status updates here.

IDLING FACTS
OWNER'S MANUALS

Vehicle manufacturer's owner's manuals recommend and warn against excessive idling. Learn more here.

What is the big deal about parked vehicles that are idling? What is so bad about someone parked in their car, idling while chatting on a cell phone? Or a heavy-duty diesel delivery truck idling for 10-15-20 minutes? Eventually these vehicles go on their way and everything seems as it was before they parked and idled. But it isn’t. Although you don’t see it, harm has been done, some of it permanent. Any people that were in the vicinity, including the drivers, have been harmed by breathing the toxic emissions. There has been harm done to the engines, harm done to wallets or company profit margins, harm done to the environment, even harm done to America’s security. Drivers need to be made aware of this harmful and wasteful practice that occurs all over Vermont, every day.

Idle-Free VT Inc. is a Vermont non-profit corporation and grassroots campaign formed to address the issue of unnecessary vehicle idling (idling when parked or in drive through lanes) in Vermont. Its main goal is to raise awareness of idling. It also advocates enactment of Vermont idling legislation. Idle-Free VT seeks to achieve its goals through media exposure, forming coalitions, petitioning, working with legislators, and encouraging local activism (town ordinances or resolutions and school policies).

Unecessary vehicle idling is no fringe concern. Collectively, Vermonters can make a real difference in the quality of life of our state by avoiding needless idling. Here's how we benefit:

• SAVE MONEY:
Plain and simple, idling gets 0 MPG. A warmed up, parked light-duty vehicle in almost any circumstance should not idle for more than 30 seconds. At this point, it’s better to shut the engine off and restart when ready to drive. And when warming up a cold engine, even in subfreezing weather, 30 seconds usually suffices. Driving is the best way to warm up. Still have doubts? Read what owner's manuals say.

• IMPROVE AIR QUALITY / IMPROVE OUR HEALTH:
Despite the latest in advanced emission controls for light-duty vehicles, factors such as vehicle age, state of maintenance, wear of emissions components and colder weather lead to increased harmful emissions at idle that can affect our respiratory systems. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, many equipped with diesel engines and less restrictive emissions controls, cause even higher levels of harmful emissions when idling.

• SLOW THE ADVANCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE:
Vehicle exhaust emissions also contain carbon dioxide (CO2) a leading contributor to climate change. Vermont's transportation greenhouse gas emissions, based on a geographic calculation, are nearly double the national average. At the very least, this threatens Vermont's ski, maple sugaring and tourism industries.

• IMPROVE SECURITY / CONSERVE ENERGY:
Our dependence on foreign oil poses a threat to our economic and strategic security. Idling reduction is part of the formula to help make Vermont and America energy independent.

• AVOID NEEDLESS ENGINE WEAR:
All engines can be affected by needless wear-and-tear from excessive idling. See owner's manual page samples here to learn more. Heavy-duty diesel engines are particularly susceptible to increased maintenance and shortened engine life from this practice, according to the EPA and several commercial engine manufacturers.

• OBEY VERMONT'S LAWS:
In certain locales and in certain instances (such as allowing a vehicle to idle while unattended in public) it is illegal to let a vehicle idle when parked.

For complete details on the concerns of idling--and what you can do about it--visit the IDLING FACTS page.

"WASTEBUSTERS - IDLING MYTHS" VIDEO! Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection "Idling Is Fuelish" Campaign Connecticut has a comprehensive educational no idling campaign. Featured is the "Wastebusters - Idling Myths" video: a parody of the Discovery Channel's popular Mythbusters program. Watch as the Wastebusters team of Dave, Lola and Lloyd "exhaust" idling myths. Very educational and entertaining.		TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY: Fleet operators can implement a policy that informs operators and monitors idling. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, UPS and others practice idling reduction policies that save them thousands of dollars annually. Entities that serve patrons (who may tend to idle excessively on the premises) can be a responsible member of the community by thoughtfully educating their patrons about unnecessary idling. VSECU (Vermont State Employees Credit Union) is doing so by posting these downloadable signs about the concerns of idling at their drive-up ATM locations. Visit the BUSINESS IDLE FREE page for details.
IDLE-FREE VT BUMPER STICKER Raise people's awareness with this bumper sticker! It's available (along with other items) through the Cafepress.com "Make Your Own Stuff" offering. Visit the Apparel and Prints page for details.

NOTE: Many links within this website are pdf documents. If these documents are not viewable, the likely solution is to download the free Adobe Reader.3