Idling Is Not Ideal
By minimizing excessive idling, you can promote fuel efficiency, ensure engine health and improve air quality.
The Truth about Idling
Idling for more than 20 seconds uses more fuel than restarting your engine. It's more fuel efficient just to turn your engine off.
No worries: frequently restarting your car has little impact on engine components such as the battery and starter motor.
However, excessive idling can damage engine components like your spark plugs, engine cylinders and exhaust systems.
Vehicle exhaust contains many toxic air pollutants that are known or suspected to cause serious health effects.
It's Not Cool to Idle at School
One of the places that excessive idling occurs is at school, when picking up or dropping off our children. Yet children are most vulnerable to the air pollutants that result from idling.
OEC's anti-idling campaign focuses on educating students and parents about air pollution, respiratory health and the ways that they can improve both. With a pledge to not idle, citizens are promoting air quality, children's health and fuel efficiency.
Download the "It's Not Cool to Idle at School" fact sheet and tool kit here. [PDF]
For more information on how to get involved, please email Carrie Jones, OEC Volunteer Coordinator.
