Programs to Reduce Vehicle Idling
Idling vehicles waste fuel and emit air pollutants that can cause serious health effects. Buses and parents’ vehicles idling during school drop-off and pick-up can produce concentrated exhaust emissions not only outside school buildings, but also inside: Exhaust can be pulled into a school through the air intakes of the building’s ventilation system where it can accumulate and cause serious health issues for staff and students. Diesel exhaust from aging school buses has a negative impact on human health, especially for children who have a faster breathing rate than adults and whose lungs are not yet fully developed. While new buses must meet EPA’s tougher emission standards, many older school buses continue to emit harmful diesel exhaust that produces hazardous pollutants and significant levels of particulate matter that can cause lung damage and aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Taking action to address car and bus idling can positively impact air quality and the health of students and staff as well as reduce fuel costs, energy costs and unnecessary engine wear. Learn more about how to implement healthier transportation policies like establishing “Idle-Free Zones”, locating passenger pickup and drop off areas away from a school’s air intake supply and classroom windows, starting a carpooling program and encouraging active transportation like walking and biking. (Also be sure to visit our National & State Green School Programs page to learn more about local and national Green School programs and resources to help you to continue to improve the health and sustainability of your school!)

Before You Start
- Form an Action Team
- Center for Green Schools: Transportation Video (8mins)
- Center for Green Schools: Transportation Companion Guide
Design and Preparation
- Conduct a General Environmental Review Checklist
- Conduct a Transportation Audit
- Sample Commute Survey for Staff & Faculty
- Extra Credit: Track the number of vehicles and time spent idling
Implementation
- Sample Transportation Action Plan (review program options & develop an action plan)
- Implement an Idle Reduction Campaign
- EPA Idle-Free Schools Toolkit
- Airwatch NW Idle Reduction Toolkit
- Organize Carpools, Bikepools & Walkpools: www.carpooltoschool.com
- Biodiesel: Start a district-wide campaign to use it in school buses
- See Also: Walking, Biking & Safe Routes to School
Using Your Project
- Eco School Transportation Pathway
- Eco School National Standards & Curriculum Alignment
- Project Learning Tree Curriculum Offerings
- Green Education Foundation: Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse
- Learning Lab Sustainability Lessons
- EPA MyEnvironment: Search Tool of Environmental Data by Zipcode
- Eco Schools Green STEM Initiative