Engines Off
Idling is leaving a car’s internal combustion engine running while the vehicle is parked. By releasing tailpipe emissions and wasting fuel, idling is a threat to public health, the climate, and wastes money.
Public health
Every minute that a car idles, it emits enough emissions to fill 150 balloons with harmful pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and PM2.5. These idling pollutants aggravate asthma and allergies and can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Idling vehicles also release compounds that react with sunlight to form ground-level ozone pollution, contributing to the Front Range’s dangerous air quality days.
Climate change
Personal vehicles generate around 30 million tons of CO2 every year just by idling. In the Denver Metro Area and Northern Front Range, idling vehicles create 7,77086,000 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions.
Cost savings
Each year, U.S. vehicles consume more than 6 billion gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline combined by idling; that’s worth $20 billion. Contrary to popular belief, idling for 10 seconds wastes more gas – and causes more wear and tear on engines – than turning an engine off and on.
Engines Off programs
Engines Off for Local Governments
Idling is a threat to public health and the environment. Jurisdictions around the world recognize that idling should be restricted, including Colorado. In Colorado, commercial, diesel vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 14,000 lbs cannot idle for longer than 5 minutes, with some exemptions for extreme temperatures, emergencies and running equipment. However, there are very few laws that prevent passenger and small commercial vehicles from idling. At the RAQC, we’re reaching out to local governments and the public to encourage the adoption of ordinances to have people turn their engines off. We’re also offering resources for fleet managers to reduce idling and save money.
Engines Off at Schools
Children are more susceptible to developing asthma and other respiratory illnesses from air pollution exposure. Unfortunately, many caregivers idle their vehicles while they wait to pick up and drop off their kids at school – exposing children to harmful tailpipe emissions. That’s why the RAQC is partnering with schools in the Front Range to educate parents, students and school staff about the health impacts of idling near children.
Engines Off for Food Trucks
If you own a food truck, or similar mobile business, we have an exciting opportunity coming soon for you to reduce idle air pollution, save money, reduce noise pollution and increase customer satisfaction: apply for funding to switch your diesel, gas or propane engine to a battery.
Looking for information about the 2012 Award Winning ENgines Off Program?
Between 2008 and 2012, the first Engines Off program launched as a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local governments in Colorado to improve regional air quality by reducing vehicle idling. The RAQC has preserved much of the information from the original Engines Off website.