Did you know that idling your vehicle for more than 3 minutes is against the law in New Jersey? View state and local no-idling regulations. 

That's because vehicle exhaust not only pollutes our air (it is the leading source of hazardous air pollution in New Jersey (source: NJDEP), but also puts people, especially children, at risk for asthma and other respiratory ailments, allergies, and possible long term problems. In addition, vehicles release potent
greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

NJEF, with the help of Chatham Township and Millburn Environmental Commission, has embarked on an "Idle Free New Jersey" campaign to educate New Jerseyans about the law, enforce no-idling hot spots, and ask schools and towns to adopt an "Idle Free New Jersey" pledge.

NJEF encourages all towns, schools, and individuals to help reduce idling. Our general rule of thumb: if you are going to be idling for more than 30 seconds, turn off your vehicle.

Here's why...

Idling Facts

• Idling for more than 10 seconds actually uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
• Tests show no more than 30 seconds is needed to circulate engine oil.
• The best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it.
• Idling
  can actually damage engines because it is operating not at peak (or
  high) operating temperatures. It causes incomplete combusions and more
  harmful pollutants to be released into the air. Fuel residues also form
  and contaminate engine oil and damage engine parts. In addition, water
  can condense in vehicle's exhaust.
• Modern vehicles don't require any idling to warm them up.

(Source: Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada)

Health Impacts

• Vehicle related air pollution can cause asthma and other
  respiratory problems and allergies, especially in children who breathe
  at a faster rate than adults. Air toxics also contribute to heart
  disease and attacks, as well as higher cancer rates in high traffic
  areas (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
• Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15 (Source: American Lung Association).
• Up to 25% of NJ's school age children are asthmatic-the leading cause of
  school absenteeism and increased visits to the emergency room on hot
  summer days (Source: NJ Department of Environmental Protection).
• Diesel vehicles emit numerous cancer causing chemicals, including
  benzene and formaldehyde; all vehicle gas emissions account for as many
  as half of all cancers attributed to outdoor air pollution (Source:
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Take the "Idle Free Zone" Pledge!

Schools

Municipalities

Business & Shopping Centers

No Idling Materials

Success Stories

To date, NJEF has helped Red Bank, East Windsor, and numerous other
towns and schools implement idle free campaigns. Read more about NJEF's
Idle Free New Jersey success stories!

Spotlight

NJ Environmental Federation's Idle Free New Jersey campaign is helping school kids turn education into action.

In Switlick Schools in Jackson, NJ Environmental Federation worked with students on designing a power point presentation on the importance of reducing vehicle and bus idling around the school. They presented it to the school and the town council, explaining the harm idling vehicles create and the benefits of reducing idling. The council agreed to do more to enforce the law and helped inititate an eductional no-idling campaign. As a result of their efforst, the students and teachers were given our "Grassroots Environmental Leadership Award" at our 23rd conference in April 2009.

NJ Environmental Federation also gave the student council of Saint Peter School an award for their work in promoting an "Idle Free New Jersey" campaign in their schools and their community. The students created a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) with the goal of teaching others to help clean up air pollution by turning off their idling vehicle engines. As a result of the kids work, Ocean County declared April to be "no idling" awareness month.

Listen to the PSAs: