You HOLD THE KEY— REDUCE POLLUTION AND SAVE MONEY WHAT You SHOULD KNOW HAT CAN YOU DO? Turn off your engine when your vehicle is not in motion and you will: Save money Use less fuel Reduce engine wear Follow the Connecticut anti-idling rule Use proven technologies such as: Electric engine heaters to minimize warm-uptime Auxiliary power units to provide electric power ABOUT TRUCK AND BUS ENGINE IDLING Diesel engines in trucks and buses play an important role in transport- ing goods, ser- vices, and people nationwide. How- ever, there is growing concern about the health effects associ- i ated with expo- sure to diesel exhaust. Diesel exhaust affects every- one, but people with heart or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory problems are most sensitive to the small particles in diesel exhaust. Fortunately, new emission standards and new technology are helping to ensure that the cleaner diesel engines of the future will dramatically lower these health risks. If you drive a diesel vehicle, the first thing you can do now to save money and reduce air pollution is stop idling. Idling for extended periods of time generates significant amounts of diesel exhaust-and air pollution. It also wastes fuel, causes excessive engine wear, and poses health risks to every- one including drivers. In Con- necticut, a state regualtion limits idling time. THE CONNECTICUT ANTI-IDLING RULE Connecticut regulation (Sec. 22a-174-18 (a)(5)) prohibits the operation of any motor vehicle for more than three consecutive minutes except: • When forced to remain motionless because of traffic conditions or mechanical difficulties over which the operator has no control, • When it is necessary to operate heating, cooling or auxiliary equipment necessary to accomplish the intended use of the vehicle, • To bring the engine to the manufacturer's recommended operating temperature, • When the outdoor temperature is below 20°F, or • When the vehicle is being repaired. Drivers and/or companies who violate this anti-idling rule may be subject to enforcement actions and fines of up to $25,000 per day issued by state agencies and up to $27,500 in civil penalties per violation imposed by the federal government. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH IDLING? IDLING CAUSES POLLUTION • Idling vehicles emit significant amounts of pollution including: carbon dioxide (CO contributes to global climate change); nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (NOx and VOCs contribute to the formation of ozone smog); poisonous carbon monoxide; and particulate matter (PM contributes to asthma, heart disease, lung damage, and possibly cancer. IDLING WASTES FUEL AND MONEY AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE ENGINE WEAR • A typical truck burns about a gallon of diesel fuel for each hour it idles. If a truck idles for 6 hours per day, operating 300 days a year, it would consume more than 1,800 gallons of fuel per year—just idling. At $1.25 per gallon of diesel, this would add over $2,250 to the truck's annual operating cost. • Running an engine at low speed (idling) causes twice the wear on internal parts compared to driving at regular speeds. The American Trucking Association estimates that this can shorten the life of the engine and increase maintenance costs by $2,000 per year. • It is more fuel efficient to turn off your engine than to idle. Fuel consumption during engine start-up is equal to about 30 seconds of engine idling if the engine is within normal operating temperature. IDLING POSES HEALTH RISKS TO EVERYONE INCLUDING DRIVERS • While sitting in an idling vehicle, drivers are exposed to the vehicle's pollution more so than when the vehicle is in motion since there is no airflow to vent the emissions. TIPS FOR DWNERS AND OPERATORS OF DIESEL VEHICLES INITIAL STARTING/WARM-UP TIME Most engine manufacturers recommend that newer engines run for roughly 3-5 minutes before driving. In colder climates, block heaters are a good alternative to excessive idling. They plug into electrical outlets and help warm the engine to avoid starting difficulties. RESTARTING Most newer diesel engines, when properly maintained, will not have starting difficulties and do not need to idle for long periods of time in order to restart. Older vehicles may have more difficulty restarting, but don't assume new engines should be operated like older ones. Check the manufacturer's recommendations. ------- PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED IDLING fuel and money excessive engine air pollution O Pollution from idling poses health risks to drivers FUEL GELLING In recent years, refiners have worked to resolve the problem of diesel fuel gelling. They have created special winter blends that better withstand colder temperatures. AUXILIARY POWER UNITS Installing a small generator, or auxiliary power unit, that provides heat, air conditioning, and/or electrical power while the vehicle is not in motion can save up to 95 percent of the fuel used during idling, saving you money and creat- ing less air pollution. Depend- ing on the amount of time spent idling each year the payback on these devices can be one to two years. For more infor- mation about idle control tech- nology, visit: www.epa.gov/ otaq/retrofit/idlingtech.htm. NEW VEHICLES When buying new equipment, purchase engines already equipped with devices that minimize idling and warm-up time automatically. EXTRA TIPS FOR DWNERS AND OPERATORS OF DIESEL BUSES PASSENGER COMFORT Depending on the weather, many buses will maintain a comfort- able interior temperature for a while without idling. However, bus owners may want to consider installing auxiliary power units to maintain comfortable interior temperatures without idling. WAITING FOR PASSENGERS In most cases, the three minutes of idling allowed under state law is enough to ensure that passengers will be comfortable when they reach their seats. Because many newer buses are equipped with air conditioning and windows that do not open, buses that do not have auxiliary power units must run their engines at some point to supply ventilation and climate control. But out of habit, some drivers leave their vehicles running for the entire waiting period. It is better to shut the engine down between drop off and pick up times. Letting an engine idle does more damage to the engine than starting and stopping. Most engine manufacturers recommend that newer engines run for just 3-5 minutes before and after driving. Many buses will maintain a comfortable interior temperature for a while without idling. Visit our website at www.epa.gov/ne/eco/diesel United States Environmental Protection Agency New England EPA-901-F-04-004A February 2004 y printed on 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of 50% post consumer waste, using vegetable based inks CONNECTICUT EDITION REDUCE POLLUTION AND SAVE MONEY You HOLD THE KEY- WHAT You SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TRUCKAND BUS ENGINE IDLING United States Environmental Protection Agency New England ------- |