Provided by: Natural Resources Canada

1. Provided by: Natural Resources Canada Idle-Free Zone

2. Overview Part 1 - Understanding the Issues • Idling Behaviour • Idling Emissions and Related impacts • Idling Myths Part 2 – Taking Action • Individuals, businesses, municipalities, community organizations, schools Part 3 - Summary

3. Vehicle Use in Canada • The transportation sector is responsible for 27 percent of GHG emissions in Canada • 19 million light-duty vehicles on the road • Almost one vehicle for every two Canadians • More than 300 billion kilometres driven per year • Poor decisions and bad habits contribute to fuel waste

4. Why Do Canadians Idle? Most common reasons for idling in summer and winter: • Doing an errand • Stopping to talk to an acquaintance or friend • Using restaurant drive-throughs or stopping for take-out food • Waiting to get gas • Stopping to use a cellular phone • Warming up a vehicle • Waiting for someone

5. How Much Do Canadians Idle? • Eight minutes a day in the peak of winter • 75 million minutes of idling per day nationally • Reduced idling in the summer – 46 million minutes per day

6. Why Idling is a Problem Unecessary vehicle idling: • Wastes a lot of fuel – and money • Depletes a valuable non-renewable resource • Needlessly increases GHGs that contribute to climate change • Savings potential of $630 million per year nationally

7. Impacts of Climate Change Increasing levels of GHGs are trapping heat in the atmosphere Global warming triggers changes in climate GHG emissions can magnify the effects of air pollution Affects air quality and health We can all take steps to reduce GHGs

8. Impact of Idling on Emissions Scenario 2 Scenario 1 No Idling Idling LEAVE POINT of ORIGIN Start engine Start engine Elevated CACs + GHGs Elevated CACs + GHGs DRIVE to DESTINATION CACs + GHGs CACs + GHGs WAIT at DESTINATION No Idling Idling Engine idling Turn engine off No CACs, No GHGs CACs + GHGs Engine idling Start engine CACs + GHGs Briefly elevated CACs + GHGs DRIVE AWAY CACs + GHGs CACs + GHGs • No substantial difference in CACs between scenarios 1 and 2 • Scenario 1 always generates less GHGs than scenario 2

9. Dispelling the Myths Idling Myth #1– The Engine should be warmed Up Before Driving In reality: • Excessive idling is not a good way to warm up a vehicle • The best way to warm up an engine is to drive it • 60 seconds of idling is enough warm-up time

10. Dispelling the Myths Idling Myth #2 – Shutting Off and Restarting Your Vehicle is Costly because it is Hard on the Starter and Battery In reality: • Fuel costs savings offset wear and tear on the battery and starter after 60 seconds • 10-plus seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine

11. Available Resources • Check out the Idle-Free Zone Web site – www.idling.gc.ca • Online resources can help you build a campaign • Facts and figures, ready-to-use graphics, survey tools and more • Find out how other communities are taking action

12. Five-Step Action Plan Practice the easy Five-Step Action Plan: 1) Avoid unnecessary idling – if parked for more than 60 seconds, turn off the engine 2) Reduce warm-up idling – 60 seconds is enough (provided windows are defrosted) 3) Use a remote car starter only 60 seconds before you leave 4) Use a block heater to pre-warm the engine in winter 5) Become an advocate in your home, neighbourhood, school or workplace

13. What Individuals Can Do to Take Action Get informed – visit the Idle-Free Zone at www.idling.gc.ca Contact municipal and school officials and local mall managers Recommend an idling campaign to your community association

14. What Businesses Can Do to Take Action at the Workplace • Organize a workplace idle-free campaign • Create “idle-free zones” in drop-off/pick-up spots and loading docks • Implement in-house practices and policies to reduce idling • See what other businesses are doing – fleetsmart.gc.ca • Support local initiatives

15. What Municipal Governments Can Do to Take Action Familiarize yourself with the issues Research what is being done elsewhere Investigate the scope of the problem - “idling hot spots” Look at your operations – adopt best practices Consider a mix of initiatives (outreach, by-laws) Partner with others Use free on-line resources to build a campaign

16. What Community Groups Can Do to Take Action Collaborate with municipalities and others to reduce idling Gather the facts by surveying and monitoring Organize events Launch community awareness and public outreach campaigns

17. What Schools Can Do to Take Action Remember the rule – No Idling at School! Ask for a commitment Create a “No Idling Zone” Monitor results Make it part of the curriculum Learn more and visit The Idle Free Zone section for “Schools”

18. Summary Unnecessary Idling: • Wastes fuel and money • Depletes a non-renewable resource • Contributes to climate change • Progress is being made but more action is required • Individual actions make a difference

19. For More Information • Visit the Idle Free Zone Web site at www.idling.gc.ca • Insert your own Web address Insert Image of Choice or Logo