TURN IT OFF…WHY? What Is Idling?
Idling occurs when a vehicle or other engine is left running. In the recent past, it was necessary to keep cars and trucks idling just to keep the engine on and running. Starting an engine was risky, inconvenient, and dangerous before the invention of electric starters in the 1960’s for gasoline powered vehicle. Diesel engines have always been harder to start than gasoline powered engines because many engines use resistive heaters in the intake manifold to warm the inlet air for starting, or until the engine reaches operating temperature.
Today, due to technology advances, it is no longer a necessity to idle while stopped or parked. Idling has become a habit that wastes fuel and money, while costing all of us the ill effects of smog pollution. Smog is the common name for ground level ozone and engine idling adds to NOx and VOC emissions, which contribute to negative, unhealthy levels of ground level ozone.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
Quit The Idle Habit - Adopt An Idling Reduction Policy
The Regional Air Quality Planning Committee (RAQPC) assists and advises H-GAC, regional and local governments, transportation organizations and other agencies on air quality issues. RAQPC recognizes the environmental, economic and health benefit potential associated with idling reduction in the HGB region. In late 2011, RAQPC formed an Idling Reduction Subcommittee to develop a voluntary diesel idling reduction policy for public and private sector fleets operating in our nonattainment region.
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Sample Idling Reduction Policies
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