City of Richmond Idle Free Program

1. City of RichmondIdle Free Program We are working towards a cleaner atmosphere. Fleet Operations took on the challenge of preparing and initiating an Idle Free Program for the City of Richmond's Fleet of Vehicles and Equipment.

2. Plan and Act Great things happen when you plan for them. Individuals, families, teams and organizations shape their own future by creating a mental vision and purpose for any project. Stephen R. Covey

3. Presentation Overview • Organize the key players • Discuss the important issues about unnecessary idling of engines • Benefits of taking action • What we can do about idling

4. Bring everyone together! Focus on the unnecessary Idling of Vehicle Engines and the Greenhouse Gases created. • Idling produces unnecessary pollution that contributes to climate change, smog and health problems; • Idling wastes fuel and adds unnecessary costs; and • Idling is not good for vehicle engines.

5. While meeting with the crews we discussed: • Most employees agreed that vehicle engines idle unnecessarily for short or long periods of time. • Idling produces unnecessary emissions: Carbon Dioxide (CO2), 78.9% Oxides of Nitrogen 12.4% Methane Gases 7.4% Methane is approximately 21 times more reactive to humans Nitrous Oxide is approximately 310 times more reactive to humans

6. How can we as a team take action? Ask the employees for their input. • The crews asked for reminders. • Use of Signage • Placement of peel and stick decals on vehicle windows • Solar Panel messages at the exit and entrance of the Works Yard • Let us know how we are doing? • We have to run the engine for battery power in-order to use the traffic advisors and beacons for safety.

7. Discuss the importance of the employees health! Reality • We all contribute to the global warming when we idle our engines. • All of us breathe the GHG in a concentrated area while the vehicles are warming up. • Sitting inside the vehicle while warming up, is not a healthy place to be!

8. Thirty Six signs were posted throughout the Works yard. Each Public Works manager contributed through their budgets for the start up cost. Approximately 750 idle free stickers were placed on the fleet vehicles and equipment. • Approximately $6,200.00 was spent.

9. Employee’s Contributed By: Reminding each other to turn off the engines. Employees were more concerned with pre-trip-inspections on all vehicles and shortened the engine warm up period. Items checked: Oil Tension belts Tires Vehicle cleanliness Transmission oil Driving safer/slower Battery condition Unusual engine noises checked

10. Discuss Benefits of Taking Action A Good Anti-Idling Program will: • Show that we care about our employees byimproving the quality of air they will breath. Importantly the program may decrease health claims.

11. What else can we do? • We talked about the employee’s families and how engine idling effects our overall health! Managers took an active role in reminding people to turn off the engine as they walked about the yard! We discussed the problems with vehicles idling at our schools and the harsh impacts it has on children!

12. Anti-Idling Action Plan Work together with all other departments and ask your Environmental Coordinators for assistance. Ask the City Mayor and Councilors to endorse the program. Employees have good ideas and knowledge to contribute. A good plan or program is always successful when it is a team effort! Discuss good driving practices to reduce fuel used!

13. Change of Driving Habits • Use of smooth easy acceleration in place of jack rabbit starts. Possible saving of 30% to 50% of total fuel used. • Maintain the speed limit, it improves defensive driving. • Remove unnecessary equipment to reduce GVW for improved fuel performance. • Plan your shortest route and avoid single occupancy. • Decelerate early for full stops, saves fuel and improves intersection safety. • Turn off the engine and eliminate unnecessary idling. • Commercial vehicle drivers use lower engine R.P.M. and professional progressive shifting techniques.

14. Timely Maintenance Programs • Vehicle engine tune ups, oil and filter changes, air filters, fuel filters, etc. • Routine tire inflation checks (reduces rolling resistance, fuel consumption and improves safety). • Proper choice of tire treads for the season. (summer tires reduce fuel costs).

15. Match the Vehicle to the Task • Purchase Hybrids for in town commuting. • Choose smaller vehicles with 4 or 3 cylinder engines. • Use of renewable fuels Bio-diesel 5% to 20% or more (combustion is cleaner). • Use carpooling for employees. • Currently, we are discussing the possible use of buses to transport employees to and from work.

16. Schools and Air Pollution • We discussed the problems with vehicle engines idling at our schools and the harsh impacts it has on children. • Meet with school officials and teachers and win their support for Idle Reduction Plans in pick-up and drop off areas.

17. Students to be Proud of -The City of Richmond “Youth Ambassadors for the Environment” became involved and created their own Idle Free Program.Elementary School Students formed groups and participated in Environmental ProgramsCity of Richmond Public Works Sign Department donated Idle Free Signs to the students and volunteered to install the signs.

18. Computer Fun and Learning Passion for Action: Ken Martin, Randy Yeung, Sherese Johnson “Learning through discovery is one way of getting a message out. It can compel, motivate and impact people for a lifetime.” • http://www.virescens.com/p4a/interactive%20exhibits.html

19. Student Educational Tools How does this help you? It generates a lot of discussion. When people ask questions, they will look to you for more information about your organization, the issues, how it relates to them and what they can do about it.

20. Signage Best Choice of Idle Free Signs by students

21. Involve Everyone We can: • Announce successes! • Involve all employees and Union officials with decision making processes. • Attend Safety Committee Meetings and give updates of the progress or problems you encounter.

22. Networking • As a Manager, Supervisor or interested participant, network with others and share ideas and results. • As a Fleet Owner take steps to reduce idling and fuel cost. • Choose alternative fuels that produce less GHGs.

23. Biodiesel is a viable motor fuel. • Performance and fuel economy were unchanged • Exhaust emissions improved dramatically. • The fuel was fully compatible with vehicle and fuel dispensing equipment. • City of Richmond is using B5 - Bio-5% • www.biofleet.net

24. RE-ENFORCEMENT • Continue to distribute anti-idling signs, informational notices and vehicle stickers. • Distribute flyers, posters and prepare press releases and articles for the local newspaper. • Produce displays for community events. • Involve City Council, the Chamber of Commerce or other community organizations.

25. Anti-Idling Ideas • Some Municipalities have adopted non-enforceable measures such as anti-idling policies. • Include anti-idling practices in your Employees Safety Manual!

26. The “Idle-Free-Ideas” • Make your employees aware that they are making a positive impact with the program. • A personal thank-you to your employees for contributing to the Idle Free Program goes a long way.

27. The Anti-Idling Tool KitReady-to-Use Graphics

28. The Anti-Idling Tool Kit Campaign Materials

29. Summary • Unnecessary idling produces unnecessary pollution and preventable health problems. • Idling wastes fuel and costs us money. • Idling is not good for our vehicles’ engines. • We can stop idling engines and help spare our air, slow climate change and save energy and money. • I can say to my grandchildren that I was part of a great team that cared about them and our environment.

30. It’s Up to Us! • The first step is to “take action” and to reduce your own vehicle’s idling. • Plan what matters most. • Together, we can make a difference by Working and Sharing Ideas

31. Gerry Hay Fleet Training Officer City of Richmond, B.C.