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<br />When Students Return to School. Turn Off the Key, Be Idle Free <br /> <br />7A <br />Page 2 of2 Page 81 <br /> <br />Here are some ways thatschoots can help turn off the key and be idle <br />free: <br /> <br />.t.:f <br /> <br />. School districts can establish idling guidelines. When school bus <br />drivers arrive to drop off or pick up passengers, they should turn off <br />their engines as soon as possible and not restart until ready to <br />depart. <br />. In cold weather, provide a space inside the school where bus <br />drivers who arrive l:!llrly can wait. <br />. Inform drivers of the potential health risks from breathing diesel <br />exhaust. <br />. Inform the bus company of the economlcbeneflts of reduced fuel <br />consumption as a result of less idling. A typical school bus bums <br />about one gallon ofdlesei fuel for each hour It Idles. A company <br />operating 25 buses with each bus reducing its Idling time by 30 <br />minutes per day would save thousands of dollars per year. <br /> <br />Older school buses emit larger amounts of pollutants during their lifespan, <br />but can operata more cleanly when modified. Maryland Department of the <br />Environment's (MDE) Mobile Sources Control Program actively promotes <br />the use of diesel retrofit technology equipment as a cost-effective way for <br />older buses to reduce emissions. <br /> <br />"We discov~red earty on that many fleet managers were not aware of the <br />current diesel retrofit technology," says Lonnie RIchmond of MDE's Mobile <br />Sources Control Program. "Another b.arrler to installing the equipment on <br />older buseS Is the fleet owners lacked th~ funding to install the devices." <br /> <br />MDE Takes Action <br />MDE's Mobile Sources Control Program began a campaign two years ago to <br />promote awareness of available retrofit technology for school bus fleet <br />owners and operators through workshops, presentations and networking. <br />The program was also funded by federal grants to help local fleets <br />purchase and Install retroflttechnology.One MDE project,.8 400 school <br />bus equipment retrofit project for Anne Arundel, Montgomery and Prince <br />George's counties 15 now complete. These school bus retrofits will reduce <br />student and operator exposure to several pollutants found In diesel <br />exhaust. <br /> <br />.~......:~~~.~~,~~~~~~,~~..':~..~~,i~~~!..~: Enfo~:~~~~:.~_~~~!~ia~..~~~~~~~,:"~~c:()rd.__^,,,J <br />5llb~ib!U.Y!l~U_b5Cdb.e @200G Copyright MDE <br /> <br />EdltorjfJJ~m <br />Maryl.md Department of the Environment <br />1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21230 <br />lL~'tt,!Jlde.state.Jml-,.ill! <br /> <br />htto:l/www.mde.state.md.uslResearchCenterlPublications/GeneralleMDE/vo12 no5/idle:free... 6/6/2007 <br />