Are citizens of a Canadian city spending $42 Million in fuel when parked? See what you think. In 2005 / 2006 a citizen of Halifax, Nova Scotia began studying idling vehicles across his city. An avid year-round cyclist, bicycling gave a close-up view.  Previously a ‘heavy idler’ himself, this is what he found.

1. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
Is a City
Spending
$42 Million
Idling Engines
When Parked?

2. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
Registered light-duty
cars, trucks
in Halifax, N.S. (2019).
*250,000 vehicles / drivers.
>98% are fuel-burning.
<2% are electrics / hybrids.
<2% have Idle ‘Start/Stop’.
*Estimation via
Nova Scotia Auto Industry.

3. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
The Back-Story:
In 2005 / 2006, Ron Zima
a citizen of Halifax, Nova Scotia
began studying idling vehicles
across his city.
An avid year-round cyclist,
bicycling gave a close-up view.
Previously a ‘heavy idler’ himself,
this is what he found.

4. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
10% of drivers in Halifax:
Extreme Idlers.
= 25,000 drivers
X 500 + hours annually ea.
= 12,500,000 hours
x $1.00 L per hour
= 12.5 million Litres
= $12,500,000
= 37,975 Tonnes CO2e

5. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
40% of drivers in Halifax:
Heavy Idlers.
= 100,000 drivers
x 200 + hours annually ea.
= 20,000,000 hours
x $1.00 L per hour
= 20 million Litres
= $20,000,000
= 60,760 Tonnes CO2e

6. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
30% of drivers in Halifax:
Medium Idlers.
= 75,000 drivers
x 100 + hours annually ea.
= 7,500,000 hours
x $1.00 L per hour
= 7.5 million Litres
= $7,500,000
= 22,785 Tonnes CO2e

7. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
15% of drivers in Halifax:
low idlers (proper use)
= 37,500 drivers
x 50 + hours annually ea.
= 1,875,000 hours
x $1.00 L per hour
= 1.875 million Litres
= $1,875,000
= 5,696 Tonnes CO2e

8. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
5% of drivers in Halifax:
light idlers (proper use)
= 12,500 drivers
x 25 + hours annually ea.
= 312,500 hours
x $1.00 L per hour
= 312,500 Litres
= $312,500
= 950 Tonnes CO2e

9. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
Estimated Cost of Idling
(in park) in Halifax
(Light Duty Vehicles only)
= 42,187,500 hours
annually.
= 42,187,500 Litres
= $42,187,500
= 128,165 Tonnes CO2e

10. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
These estimates
account for
carbon emissions only
(CO2e).
It does not include
exhaust toxins in vehicle
emissions fouling air quality,
feeding an “asthma epidemic”.
SEE Exhaust Gas.

11. Annual cost of idling vehicles when parked:
Zero mileage, low/no benefit, U.S. / Canada.
Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
What do YOU see?
1. Observe Idling:
Walk around Halifax.
Smell the exhaust.
SEE the idling epidemic.
Texting while parked,
schools, hospitals, shopping,
sports facilities, construction,
driveways…

12. Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
What do YOU see?
2. Watch the video.
Ron Zima WAS
a heavy, ‘Canadian Idler’.
SEE how he’s saving
185 engine hours, $280 / yr
from his previous lifestyle.Wow! What I’ve Saved 6:41

13. Estimates based on:
Argonne National Labs, U.S. Department of Energy research.
CO2e Resource
E3 Fleet
Emissions Calculator

14. Additional
Resources.

15. IDLE-FREE
Corporate Responsibility.
The Idling Epidemic.