How To Help

Although air quality is improving, there are still days when pollution in Kentuckiana is higher than it should be.

There are many ways to help prevent pollution. Continue reading below to see how you can help.

Idle Free

Seeing smoky exhaust pouring out of tailpipes is rare these days. But that doesn’t mean gas-powered vehicles are emissions-free.

Pollution adds up, making life more difficult for thousands of local children and adults with breathing problems. It also makes it harder for Louisville to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) air pollution standards, which have gotten tighter in recent years.

Idling 101

Idling occurs when a vehicle’s engine is running, but the vehicle is not moving. Whether you’re picking up the kids at school or grabbing coffee at the drive-through, your idling engine is polluting the air. It is easy to prevent idling. Just follow the 10-second rule. Count to ten, car off then!

Why Do People Idle?
  • Comfort and Convenience
  • When it is too hot or too cold to sit in a car that is turned off
  • In order to operate onboard equipment powered by the main engine
Examples of idling include…
  • Powering HVAC and onboard accessories during mandatory rest periods for truck drivers
  • Warming up a vehicle in your driveway
  • Leaving a gas-powered machine on when not in use

Myths & Facts About Idling

You’ve heard the myths. We’ve got the facts.

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Idle Free Resources

KAIRE has developed Idle Free materials you can use to spread the word.
Click below to download the materials.

Protect Student and Employee Health
Take action and establish a policy to raise your school’s “green” profile.

School Resources

Does your organization manage a fleet of vehicles? Do you receive deliveries at your facility? Looking for a simple way to reduce your organization’s environmental footprint and save some money?

Here’s what an idling reduction policy can do:

Protect Employee Health
Save on Fuel and Maintenance Expenses
Improve Air Quality

Business Resources

Clean Air Tips

Experts have found that poor air quality can trigger asthma attacks. These attacks can send children and adults to the hospital. Poorly maintained vehicles are a major source of air pollution. You can help our community breathe easier by paying more attention to your car's maintenance.

  1. Keep your vehicle's tires properly inflated.
  2. Regular maintenance and tune-ups can improve gas mileage, extend your car's life and increase it's resale value.
  3. Save gas and protect the air by changing your vehicle's oil and air filter regularly.
  4. Your vehicle's "Check Engine" light lets you know about a possible mechanical problem. A proper diagnosis and repair can help the air and save you money in the long run.
  5. Refuel during the evenings or early in the morning when the air is cool.
  6. Stop at the "click." Topping off your tank releases gas fumes into the air and cancels the benefits of the pump's anti-pollution devices.
  7. Tighten your gas cap until it clicks to keep gas from evaporating. Replace gas caps that don't seal properly.
  1. Get traffic updates before you leave home.
  2. Drive less by combining and/or planning your errands.
  3. Avoid unnecessary idling. Use the 10 Second Rule. If you're stopped for more than 10 seconds, and you're not in traffic, you can safely turn off your engine. For more on idling click here.
  1. Telecommute. Working from home saves gas, vehicle upkeep and parking costs.
  2. Teleconference. Why drive to a meeting? Teleconferences save time and money.
  3. Instead of driving to a restaurant, bring your lunch, organize an office potluck or order delivery for a group.
  4. Carpool or ride a bus.
  5. Drive alternative fuel vehicles.
  6. Walking or riding a bike on short trips will save gas and the air.
  1. Don't use gas-powered lawnmowers and lawn equipment on Air Quality Alert Days. Consider switching to electric lawn equipment. Click here to learn more.
  2. Landscape your yard to reduce the use of gas-powered lawn equipment. Minimize grass while planting shrubs, native plants, wildflowers, ground covers, and more that need little maintenance, pesticides, and herbicides.

Reduce idling. Save money.

The costs of wasted fuel and increased maintenance from idling can affect the bottom line.

  1. Education and Outreach — Education and outreach efforts to dispel common misconceptions about idling can change driver behavior.
  2. Regulation — Communities around the United States have enacted idling restrictions.
  3. Technology — Development of idling reduction technology, or "engine-off" technology, for commercial vehicles and equipment is on the rise. Technologies such as auxiliary power units (APUs), auxiliary heaters and shore electrification are already available in many markets. See EPA's Idle Reduction Technologies for more information on alternatives to idling.
  4. Improved Planning — Communities can improve traffic flow and reduce dependence on vehicles through integrated land use and transportation planning.

Dee Lynch, Community Outreach Coordinator for KAIRE, is available as a guest speaker. Learn about how you and your organization can make air-friendly choices that help us all breathe easier.

Are you sponsoring a health or environmental fair? KAIRE may be able to set up a table at your event.

Contact us for more information.