In Tallahassee's carbon footprint, mobile sources (vehicles) account for a significant portion of greenhouse gases (GHG). The unnecessary idling of vehicles contributes to greenhouse gases and results in excessive emissions, negative health impacts, wasted fuel and reduced engine performance. Reducing unnecessary idling of vehicles is one way to reduce our carbon footprint and preserve our environment. Idle Free Tallahassee - Leon is a partnership of state and local government agencies, universities, community college, and local businesses and individuals that are committed to reducing unnecessary idling through actions like No Idling Policies, Employee/Community Education, No Idling Zones, and a Community Pledge Campaign. Together, we can all make a difference. Partner with us to eliminate unnecessary idling.

Where do you idle? (check all that apply)
Drive-through facilities (bank, fast-food, pharmacy)
Picking up family, friends, co-workers
Warming up engine
Cooling/heating car

How many minutes on average do you idle in a day?
None
Under 5 minutes
Under 10 Minutes
Under 20 minutes

I will pledge to reduce my idling by %.
(If not applicable, put "0")

I pledge to take the following actions to reduce unnecessary idling:

I also pledge to further reduce my carbon footprint by taking the following transportation actions:

Idling gets ZERO mpg. Do not idle or race your engine to warm up the engine; it will warm up more quickly when you are driving. If you need to idle, shift to neutral, so the engine is not working against your brake and consuming more fuel.

Drive Less! Use Transit, Carpool, Vanpool, Bicycle, Walking, and Reduce Travel.
Avoid short trips. With multiple stops, go to your farthest destination first to warm up your engine more quickly for better fuel economy. Follow the lead of an increasing number of Tallahassee citizens and take the bus, carpools, and vanpool. Join employer-sponsored transportation programs to save money and to network with colleagues. Use bikes or walk. Arrange for telecommuting and live closer to work when feasible. Visit StarMetro's Go Green Initiatives page for more information.

Drive the Posted Speed Limit or the Minimum Allowed
Vehicle fuel consumption increases about 5% for every 5 miles per hour (mph) driven above 60 mph. Overall savings in fuel costs from slower driving can range from 7% to 23%.

Avoid Rapid Starts & Stops and Maintain a Constant Speed
"Jack rabbit" starts and hard stops can increase fuel use by up to 40% but reduce travel time by only 4%. Accelerate gradually. Coast up to stops where not prohibited. Conserve momentum; a steady speed often helps avoid red lights and keeps cars moving more efficiently. Drive sensibly; you can save 5% to 33% in city driving costs.

Lighten Your Load
Remove unnecessary items from your vehicle. Every extra 100 pounds in or on the vehicle could reduce your mpg by up to 2%. Remove unused roof, ski, and bike racks, and try not to carry items on your roof or on a trailer; they increase aerodynamic drag and fuel use.

Keep Your Cool; It's a Breeze
Roll down windows and use the flow through air vents when first getting into a hot car and generally when driving under 40 mph. Above 40 mph, air conditioning is more fuel efficient than open windows; use the "recycle inside air" feature, that reuses the cooled air inside the car and so doesn't take as much gas to run. Try to park in the shade or use a window heat reflector.

Check Your Tire Pressure Monthly
An estimated 25% of all vehicles are running on under inflated tires. Proper tire pressure is safer, extends tire life, and can improve mpg by up to 3%. You can:

1. Purchase a quality tire pressure gauge for accurate readings, and
2. Check tire pressure when tires are cold (not driven for at least 3 hours or for less than 1.5 miles).

Note: Tire pressures change an average of 1 PSI for every 10°F change in air temperature, and can deflate naturally up to 1.5 PSI per month.

Consider alternative fuel vehicles when choosing a vehicle (hybrid electric vehicles are designed not to idle and new diesel truck technology has idle shut down features).