Transcript Idling Reduction - Welcome to the Oklahoma Department of

Air Quality Division
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
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An idling vehicle is one whose engine is
running when it is parked or not in use.
Common reasons for engine idling are:
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warming up the vehicle
waiting for someone
doing an errand
personal comfort
Listening to the radio
These examples are NOT considered idling:
◦ regular stopping in traffic
◦ stopping at loading/unloading zones...
Air Pollution
Idling school buses and refuse trucks can
pollute air in and around the vehicle.
Exhaust from heavy-duty diesel engines can
also enter buildings through air intakes,
doors, and open windows. Diesel exhaust
from buses and refuse trucks created by
excessive idling can be a health concern.
Wasted Fuel and Money
Idling buses and refuse trucks waste fuel
and money. When idling, a typical school
bus engine burns approximately half a
gallon of fuel per hour. School bus fleets
and refuse truck fleets that eliminate
unnecessary idling can save a significant
amount of money in fuel costs each year.
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Example of how much money can be saved:
◦ Fleet Size = 50 buses or 50 refuse trucks
◦ Reduced Idling Time = 60 minutes per day
Saves you a total of:
◦ 4,500 gallons of diesel fuel per year
◦ $18,000 per year
Engine Wear-and-Tear
School bus engines and refuse truck
engines do not need to idle more than a few
minutes to warm up. In fact extended idling
causes engine damage. Engine
manufacturers generally recommend no
more than three to five minutes of idling.
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Diesel exhaust contains significant levels of
small particles, known as fine particulate
matter
Fine particles pose a significant health risk
because they can pass through the nose
and throat and lodge themselves in the
lungs
These fine particles can cause lung damage
and aggravate conditions such as asthma
and bronchitis
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According to the EPA, particulate matter,
especially fine particles, is responsible for
thousands of premature deaths across the
U.S. every year
EPA has determined that diesel exhaust is a
likely human carcinogen
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People with existing heart or lung disease,
asthma or other respiratory problems are
most sensitive to the health effects of fine
particles
Children are more susceptible to air
pollution than healthy adults because their
respiratory systems are still developing and
they have a faster breathing rate
The elderly
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Myth: It's important to warm up the engine with a
long idle period, especially in cold weather.
◦ Fact: With today's diesel engines, bus and engine
manufacturers routinely suggest a warm up time of less
than five minutes. In fact, running an engine at low speed
(idling) causes significantly more wear on internal parts
compared to driving at regular speeds.
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Myth: It's better for an engine to run at low speed
(idling) than to run at regular speeds.
◦ Fact: Running an engine at low speed causes twice the wear
on internal parts compared to driving at regular speeds.
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Myth: The engine must be kept running in order to
operate the school bus safety equipment (flashing
lights, stop sign).
◦ Fact: Safety equipment can be operated without the engine
running through re-wired circuitry for up to an hour with
no ill-effects on the electrical system of the bus.
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Myth: Idling is necessary to keep the cabin
comfortable.
◦ Fact: Depending on the weather, many buses and trucks
will maintain a comfortable interior temperature for a while
without idling. Idling is not an efficient way to keep the
cabin warm. Routes should be timed so occupants do not
need to spend a lot of extra time on the bus when it is not
en route. In addition, auxiliary heaters can be purchased.
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Myth: It’s better to just leave the engine idling
because a "cold start" produces more pollution.
◦ Fact: A recent EPA study found that the emission pulse
measured after the school bus is restarted contains less
carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants
than if the school bus idled continuously over a 10-minute
period. The analysis indicated that continuous idling for
more than three minutes emitted more fine particle (soot)
emissions than at restart.
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Reduce early morning idling time to limit
exhaust build up in buses and refuse trucks
Designate an indoor area for drivers to wait if
they arrive early
Position buses and refuse trucks away from
building air intake vents so pollution does not
accumulate inside the building
Change vehicle circuit configuration to run
the lights and heating/cooling off the battery
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Limit caravanning-position buses and refuse
trucks so tailpipes do not blow directly
towards another bus/truck
No
Yes
Encourage children to sit near front of bus
when not full
An Idling reduction policy is a required
component of the application and award
 In the applications, applicants will need to
describe the idling reduction policy to be
implemented
 Include how all unnecessary idling will be
eliminated by your organization such that
idling time is minimized in all aspects of fleet
operation
An Idling reduction policy is a required
component of the application and award
 Include current annual idling times and
current annual fuel usage and anticipated
annual idling times and anticipated annual
fuel usage after policy implementation
 Include time limits, exceptions and
anticipated training
 If a current policy is in place, please
thoroughly describe the policy