Reducing engine idling will improve our air quality, reduce our carbon footprint, protect our health and save money.
1. Vehicle emissions are the leading source of toxic air pollution in New Jersey .Burning gasoline and diesel in our cars and trucks releases:
• particulate matter,
• dirt,
• nitrous oxides,
• hydrocarbons such as formaldehyde and benzene, and
• carbon monoxide.
2 Vehicle emissions are a major source of carbon dioxide contributing to global warming. About of third of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States come from vehicle emissions.
3 Vehicle exhaust is hazardous to human health, especially children’s. Studies have linked air pollution to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease, asthma and allergies.
4 Idling is unnecessary. Fuel injection engines do not need to be warmed up for more than 30 seconds except on extremely cold days (below 0◦ F).
5 Idling is hard on your engine.4 An idling engine does not run at peak efficiency, which results in incomplete combustion of fuel, residue on spark plugs and dirty engine oil.
6 Idling is expensive.2
• An average car burns close to a gallon of gas for every hour spent idling.
• All vehicles get zero miles per gallon while idling.
In general, 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the car.
