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As part of IdleFreePhilly, a campaign to reduce unnecessary idling in Philadelphia, the Clean Air Council is working with local schools to curb school bus idling. The Council has compiled and developed a set of resources to assist school administrators in limiting their students’ exposure to school bus emissions.
Background
Each year, over 21,000 school buses transport 1.5 million children to schools in Pennsylvania. As is the case with other heavy duty diesel vehicles, drivers often leave school buses running even when they are not making their rounds. Occasionally, buses are left to idle to keep the engine and bus interior warm during cold weather. More often, the idling is out of habit or convenience and is not needed. An engine requires only three to five minutes of operation before it is sufficiently warmed up.
There are two major reasons for reducing excessive school bus idling:
Protecting Health
During the school year children are exposed to harmful pollution from school buses. Students who rely on school buses for transportation to and from school average about one hour per day in these vehicles. Riding students are not the only ones impacted by pollution from school buses. Idling buses pollute air in and around the vehicles. Exhaust from buses can also enter school buildings through air intakes, doors and open windows. Diesel exhaust contains fine particulates, smog-forming compounds, air toxics and other harmful air emissions. Prolonged exposure to fine particulates and air toxics can cause lung damage, respiratory problems, premature death and possibly even cancer. Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of air pollution, because they breathe up to 50 percent more air per body weight than do adults. Additionally, children's defense mechanisms are not as mature as adults' are, and exposure has a more detrimental effect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ranks diesel exhaust as among the air pollutants it believes pose the greatest public health risks.
Curbing Waste
Idling school buses waste fuel and money. Typical school bus engines burn about half a gallon of fuel per hour of idling. If all of Pennsylvania's school buses were to reduce idling by 15 minutes a day, the total cost savings would be over $1.1 million, assuming a $2.50 per gallon diesel price. Additionally, reducing fuel consumption, helps improve the nation's energy security, as greater than half of the oil used in America comes from foreign sources.
The Campaign
Clean Air Council’s Philadelphia School Bus Anti-Idling Campaign has developed an information awareness program about diesel anti-idling practices pertaining specifically to school buses, and is reaching out to schools and school districts in the region.
Funding for the campaign was provided by the Wachovia Foundation.
Contact
If you have questions or comments about Clean Air Council’s anti-idling initiatives, please contact Sustainable Transportation Coordinator, Kate Zaidan at 215-567-4004 x 108 or kzaidan @ cleanair.org.
Philadelphia Anti-Idling Laws
In Philadelphia, two different organizations have jurisdiction to regulate diesel idling:
- Air Management Services (Department of Public Health) enforces Air Management Regulation IX, Section III.
- Philadelphia Parking Authority enforces Philadelphia Traffic Code § 12-1127(2).
Resources
Links
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