Business Idle-Free is a campaign to raise awareness of unnecessary vehicle idling in the Vermont business community. A common misconception is that since Vermont is an environmentally conscious, rural state, idling is just a fringe concern. The surprising truth is that Vermont has elevated levels of asthma, and that Vermont's transportation greenhouse gas emissions, on a per capita basis, are nearly double the national average. Idling affects our air quality, contributes to global warming and wastes fossil fuel. For more details, see Idling Facts.
As it relates to FLEET OPERATED BUSINESSES, in addition to the above concerns, excessive idling negatively affects the bottom line, since not only is fuel wasted but needless engine wear-and-tear occurs.
NON-FLEET BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS that serve patrons who may be excessively idling their vehicles on the premises (in the parking lot and/or drive-through) also need to be aware of these concerns.
Business Idle-Free encourages businesses to adopt an idle-reduction policy. For fleet operators, this is not only an opportunity to save the company a significant sum of money, but also to reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution in the community. Non-fleet businesses can have the same positive impacts and therefore enhance their corporate social responsibility in the community.
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HOW BUSINESS FLEET OPERATORS CAN SAVE MONEY
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| Companies like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and United Parcel Service are reaping the financial benefits gained from instituting an idle-reduction policy. How is it done?
 In the case of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), they became aware of the opportunity to save the company money through fuel savings of their fleet vehicles several years ago. Their medium-duty trucks are equipped with Engine Control Modules (ECMs) which read engine diagnostics and monitor history of use. GMCR found that the truck engines were idling 30% of their run time. Over a period of two years, with an annual driver safety training and idling awareness program, and quarterly tracking of engine use, GMCR was able to reduce idling to 10% of run time, resulting in a 4% savings of fuel annually. Even more impressively, for their fleet size, they are saving 5,000 gallons a year from idle-reduction alone!
Many modern engines are equipped with ECMs that make available data of vehicle operational parameters. A customized data logger or similar device would need to be installed on most vehicles to read this data and track engine idling, and determine how much fuel and money is saved. As demonstrated above, this would pay for itself in short order. However, while recommended, it is not essential for vehicles to utilize these systems to institute an idle-reduction policy. The main--and virtually cost-free--component is to establish a definitive policy that clearly and regularly informs company fleet drivers of the multiple benefits of idle-reduction.
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POWERPOINT PRESENTATION (downloads to desktop)
A SAMPLE BUSINESS FLEET OPERATOR'S ASSESSMENT OF IDLING
AND HOW TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT (INCREASE PROFIT, HELP ENVIRONMENT)
Heavy-duty vehicles almost always means diesel. There are some concerns about diesel's needs to run at idle in warm-up and in cold weather. With few exceptions, these concerns are misconceptions and/or passé information. For the up-to-date information on warm-up times, restarting, fuel gelling and engine wear-and-tear, please read the Environmental Protection Agency New England document: "What You Should Know About Truck Engine Idling".
Additionally, use this calculator from Argonne National Laboratory to determine the savings of heavy-duty trucks equipped with IR (Idling Reduction) devices. The higher the fuel price, the quicker the payback.
A SAMPLE BUSINESS FLEET OPERATOR IDLE-REDUCTION POLICY
(Company name) has an engine idle-reduction policy. We feel that this is an important initiative in order to save fuel and reduce harmful emissions.
This policy is applicable to all (company name) vehicles, vendors, and motor carriers at all (company name) locations. Truck drivers will shut off their engines while at the loading dock, at a site location (except where necessary to operate certain equipment), and drivers of vehicles, in general, will eliminate unnecessary engine idling.
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WHAT NON-FLEET BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS CAN DO
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| Businesses and institutions that serve patrons--such as banks, post offices, hospitals, colleges and ski areas--need be concerned about patrons who idle their vehicles in the parking lot and when applicable, a drive-through. This can also pertain to employees and delivery vehicles.
Implementation of an idle-reduction policy can include:
• Strategic placement of no-idle 12" x 18" or 18" x 24" metal signs. Sign ideas for GENERIC and DRIVE-THROUGH. Also available is the VSECU NO-IDLE POSTER (see below) they are kindly offering to the business community.
• Information handouts to patrons. Handout ideas for GENERIC and DRIVE-THROUGH. Feel free to download and print.
• An employee awareness program.
The benefits for non-fleet businesses and institutions are not directly financial but are nonetheless significant--enhancing their reputations in the eyes of their valued patrons and in the greater community by taking a leadership role toward improving our air quality, environment and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global climate change.
VSECU--Vermont State Employees Credit Union
A model policy for other non-fleet businesses and institutions to emulate.
In 2005, the VSECU Board of Directors formed an Environmental Strategies Committee. This Committee proposed, and the Board adopted, a new environmental mission statement.
As part of this statement, VSECU has taken measures to raise awareness of engine idling by their members (patrons). They have handed out information about idling and then recently installed laminated No Idling posters at their drive-thru locations. They are displayed in the Drive-Up ATM lanes at the Montpelier, Berlin and Williston VSECU offices and at the Barre-Montpelier Road Drive-Up ATM.
VSECU's efforts are done in such a way as to not offend their valued members. In fact, they report that their members are thanking them for implementing this policy. As a result, VSECU has enhanced their corporate social responsibility by taking a leadership role in the welfare of the community.
VSECU Montpelier office Drive-Up ATM. VSECU is kindly offering the template of their poster--click above.
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We would welcome the addition of your business to the forward thinking business organizations that want to be part of the solution:
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COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS WITH IDLE-REDUCTION POLICIES
(either native to or operating in Vermont)
FOLLOW LINKS TO IDLE-REDUCTION POLICIES
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Coca Cola Bottling
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Vermont Gas
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Land-Air Express
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Black River Produce
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VSECU (see above)
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Vermont Transit Co.
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Brattleboro Savings & Loan Assoc.
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