Local efforts or campaigns are a very essential way to raise awareness about unnecessary vehicle idling. These efforts can include a municipality, spearheaded by the town's energy coordinator or committee, or local or regional organization. The focus can be about idling specifically or as a component of a larger effort dealing with issues of transportation or energy conservation in a town or community. An effort, for instance, may seek to have a town's governmental authority pass or enact a town-wide resolution, policy or ordinance, and/or to work with a school board to adopt an idling policy for vehicles other than school buses as part of Vermont's state law on school bus idling on school property.
Idle-Free VT wants to hear about and list your local campaign!
ATTENTION: TOWN ENERGY COMMITTEES/COORDINATORS (AND INTERESTED GROUPS & INDIVIDUALS)
ADOPTING A NO IDLING RESOLUTION FOR YOUR TOWN IS A LOW-HANGING FRUIT WAY TO CONSERVE ENERGY, SLOW THE ADVANCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND HELP PREVENT RESPIRATORY ILLNESS (read the full facts here).
A No Idling Resolution or policy is not an ordinance, but a voluntary, awareness raising measure that can include signs posted in strategic locations as well as literature handouts and notification of policy. Read how the towns listed below went about successfully adopting their No Idling Resolutions.
Take directly to your town staff and select boards for consideration and approval. DOWNLOAD THE GENERIC RESOLUTION HERE (pdf) as a guideline. Language can be added specific to your town, for example, to include the town’s municipal fleet.
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NO IDLING SIGNS Available
Town Energy Coordinators/Committees, business owners or others interested in high quality, metal No Idling signs for one or more strategic locations in your town, parking lot or drive-thru: signs (generic or custom made) can be ordered through the Vermont Agency of Human Services, Vermont Offender Work Programs.
Contact: Dennis Poulin, 2559 Glen Road, Newport, VT 05855 Phone (Toll Free): 866-729-8715 Email: dennis.poulin@ahs.state.vt.us
Or, the Vermont State Employees Credit Union (VSECU) signs used for their drive up ATM locations are available as a downloadable template (permission granted by VSECU) to create your own paper or metal sign.
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 Church Street
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Burlington Legacy Project
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FOCUS ON BURLINGTON
County: Chittenden1111111Population: 38,889
BURLINGTON ADOPTS CHANGES TO NO-IDLING LAW
In a change that coincides with no-idling regulations in many other cities around the country, effective Dec. 31, 2009, Burlington reduced the maximum allowed idling when parked time from five to three minutes (with exemptions). Since 2006, The Burlingtion Legacy Project has worked in conjunction with a diverse committee of citizens, businesses, law enforcement officials and other stakeholders to advance the City’s no-idling efforts. Most recent efforts led to the updated ordinance by the Department of Public Works Commission. Changes to the existing ordinance were brought forth by a growing concern for public health – particularly the health of Burlington’s youngest citizens – and Burlington’s overall air quality. Besides reducing the allowed idling time, the April 1 to Nov. 1 season exemption was eliminated, making the ordinance effective year-round. The new ordinance also notes that a violation is the same civil penalty as for metered parking violations.
Legacy's latest no-idling effort involves working with a school-coordinator on outreach and education about idling in the school community.
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 One of many NO IDLING signs posted in Burlington
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LISTING OF LOCAL EFFORTS
NORTHEAST KINGDOM
ONE PERSON'S EFFORTS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Virginia "Ginny" Elliott is from E. Burke, Caledonia County in Vermont's pristine Northeast Kingdom. Ginny has a strong  interest in educating about energy, especially energy conservation. She works with the Vermont Energy Education Program (VEEP). Most of her efforts in energy education are concentrated from St. Johnsbury north to towns in Essex and Orleans counties near the Canadian border. As to the negative impact of unnecessary idling, while being aware of it long before learning about Idle-Free VT, she has been a faithful advocate of the campaign, lending legitimacy to it's "statewide" claim. Ginny is a passionate networker, making good use of the 10% Challenge "Turn it Off" information cards that Idle-Free VT has kept her supplied with. She hands them out to motorists (as well as a few truckers) she has observed idling excessively, in appropriate places where people congregate as well as at town meeting. She does much more than that though:
• Talks to businesses in St. Johnsbury and Lyndonville with drive-through window service suggesting they join institutions like Merchants Bank and Vermont State Employees Credit Union in erecting signs that ask patrons not to idle while they wait for service at the window
• Makes presentations on energy in area school classrooms and includes discussion about the effects of unnecessary idling
• Suggests to school administrators that they urge parents picking up students not to idle
• Circulates petitions in support of H.97
• Passes the word on idling reduction to friends who in turn do the same
Ginny got some great news recently when the director of VEEP gave her approval to mention and promote Idle-Free VT in her work with them. She will also be able to pass on what she has learned to other energy educators around the state. She is what Local Efforts are all about…thank you, Ginny!
2009
DUMMERSTON
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
The Town of Dummerston Selectboard, on recommendation of the Dummerston Energy Committee (DEC), unanimously adopted an Anti-Idling Resolution. This non-binding resolution seeks to save energy, protect the environment and the health of Town residents. No person, town employee or third party contractor shall allow any motor vehicle to idle for more than two (2) minutes, with certain exceptions. The resolution calls for no idling signs to be installed and information literature distributed in appropriate Town locations when available.
2008
STOWE
STOWE REPORTER, MARCH 27, 2008: "IDLING CARS TARGET OF STOWE EFFORT'
Stowe CAN--the StowEnergy and Climate Action Network--in one of several of their energy and climate change related initiatives--educates members of the Stowe community in shutting off their vehicle engines when parked. They distribute pink notices (placing under windshield wipers of cars idling while parked) that say, "THANK YOU FOR NOT IDLING WHEN PARKED" along with bulleted points.
PLAINFIELD
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED MARCH 4, 2008
Robert Atchinson, Plainfield Energy Commissioner, encouraged by the action taken by SERG (Sustainable Energy Resources Group) to encourage the placing of idling resolutions on town meeting warnings, took the initiative to introduce a resolution to restrict vehicle idling at the Plainfield town meeting. Comments were generally positive and the resolution passed unanimously on a voice vote. While non-binding, the Selectboard has given permission for this information to be posted in the public venues of Plainfield. Congratulations, Bob!
NEWFANE
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED JANUARY 3, 2008
After reviewing Selectboard member Dan Dewalt's draft of an anti-idling resolution, the selectboard of Newfane voted unanimously to adopt it. It includes a one minute idling maximum with exceptions. Town employees are bound to it (although it is a non-binding resolution). No-idle signs will be installed at appropriate locations when available.
2007
MIDDLEBURY
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED DECEMBER 11, 2007
MAGWAC--Middlebury Area Global Warming Action Coalition is an ad hoc citizens group, led by coordinator Laura Asermily, that seeks to lessen carbon emissions in Middlebury which certainly has its share of vehicular congestion. A component of this initiative is to restrict vehicle idling. Their proposed idle-restriction policy is the same one that Idle-Free VT advocates as an all motor vehicle idling policy. On December 11, 2007, the Middlebury Selectboard unnanimously passed an idle-free resolution as recommended by MAGWAC. As part of the educational effort of this resolution, no-idle signs will be posted at strategic locations throughout the town. This is the full Middlebury No Idling Campaign Story. Report in the Addison Independent before passage: "Middlebury to mull car idling policy". December 18, 2007 news report on WCAX-TV channel 3 news about Middlebury's idling resolution, "No Idle Task".
RICHMOND
STATUS: ENERGY CONSERVATION POLICY ADOPTED NOVEMBER 19, 2007
On November 19, 2007, the Town of Richmond adopted an Energy Conservation Policy. The goals of this policy are to save taxpayer dollars by reducing town operating costs, promote investments in long-term energy and dollar savings, reduce pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Each town department will monitor and evaluate their energy useage in their respective buildings and vehicles. Idle reduction is a component of this policy. To encourage customers not to idle, signs will be posted at Town facilities, other public areas and at street intersections. Town employees will abide by a specific idling limitation procedure.
PUTNEY
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED JUNE, 2007
Through the efforts of PEC (Putney Energy Committee), led by Chairperson Daniel Hoviss, the Town of Putney Selectboard approved a no idling resolution that limits idling to two minutes, effective June 2007. PEC has designed several signs and will be deploying signs around town and at the schools. PEC, an ad-hoc organization of volunteers, was formed in Sept of 2006 by Town of Putney Energy Coordinator Daniel Hoviss with assistance from Bob Walker of SERG (Sustainable Energy Resource Group). Their goal is to diminish the effect of climate change by saving energy and reducing our energy usage through conservation and the replacement of non-renewable with renewable energy sources.
BRATTLEBORO
STATUS: RESOLUTION ADOPTED APRIL 17, 2007
In an effort led by Paul Cameron, executive director of Brattleboro Climate Protection, with support from Tim Stevenson, Post Oil Solutions, Brattleboro and students of the Compass School of Westminster Station (Windham County), the Brattleboro Selectboard unanimously approved a no idling resolution on April 17, 2007. Although not an ordinance and therefore non-binding, this is an important educational component (including posting of no-idle signs like this one at Brattleboro Union High School) for Brattleboro. Report in the Bratteboro Reformer: "Board: turn off engines".
BURLINGTON
STATUS: REAPPLICATION OF EXISTING IDLING ORDINANCE APRIL 10, 2007
In an April 10, 2007 news conference in front of City Hall, Mayor Bob Kiss, Police Chief Tom Tremblay and other city department heads urged residents to join public employees in creating "an idle-free Burlington", by dusting off a long existing but unenforced idling ordinance, amid the rising public concern over greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. More important than the ordinance itself is the companion educational component spearheaded by the Burlington Legacy Project. This effort includes the posting of many idling signs all over the city. Report in the Burlington Free Press: "Burlington announces no-idling campaign".
Idle-Free VT wants to hear about and list your local campaign!
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