Motor Smart

Idling vehicles waste billions of gallons of fuel, and can negatively impact our health and environment. Turning your engine off is one of the easiest and most efficient steps you can take to improve air quality. This simple act will help you save fuel and money, fight climate change, and breathe easier. Please check out the educational resources below. We hope you utilize them to spread the word to others!

Motor-Smart.org Materials

Engine Idling: The Costs to our Health, Environment & Economy (video)
Cold Starts Handout (PDF): Idling and warming up engines on cold days
Newsletter Information (PDF): Suggested text for articles on idling
Online Tutorial: Introduction to the engine idling issue through a short video and quiz
Idling Gets You Nowhere Presentation (PDF): 20 slides on idling for group presentations
Respiratory Health Handout (PDF) Idling and our children

Templates for your use:

Car window decal (JPG)
"Fast Facts" bookmark (PDF)
Parking lot signs
"Turn the Key" logo (JPG)

Other Recommended Resources

Car Speed, fuel economy, and pedestrian-bicycle safety: Useful resources
Idle-Free Charlevoix: A campaign which includes street banners (JPG)
Engines Off!: Myths and Facts about engine idling from Department of Environmental Health, City and County of Denver
Eco-Drive Michigan: Tips on "eco-driving" (a way of operating your vehicle that lowers fuel use, carbon dioxide, air pollution and accident rates) from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Michigan Green Schools: Schools seeking "Green School" certification can receive points for idling education
Ozone Action Days: Tips on reducing ozone, from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
To Idle or Not to Idle, That is the Question: Measurements from Argonne National Laboratory
U.S. Department of Energy: Idle reduction strategies for various classes of vehicles