Idling Fuel and Money Estimator

How much fuel and money can you save?

Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more fuel and produces more carbon dioxide (CO2) than restarting your vehicle. If you're going to be stopped for more than 60 seconds – except in traffic – turn your engine off.

Step 1- Provide your idling time and engine size
Minutes Idling per day*
On average, Canadians idle six to eight minutes per day (Source: NRCAN)
Engine size (litres)*
E.g. a Toyota Corolla engine is 2.0 litres and a Silverado pick up truck engine could be 2.7 to 6.6 litres
Fuel price (dollars)*
The above is an average gas price, but you can enter the current fuel price (X.XXX).

Step 2- Check your Individual emissions and savings
Idle fuel use (L/year)
Idle CO2 emissions (Kg/year)
Emission Factor – 2.3 Kg. of CO2 is emitted for every litre of gasoline used. (Source: NRCAN)
Cost of idling ($/year)
Dollars/year that could be saved if you stop idling. How many vehicles does your family own and use daily?
You could buy a few extra cups of coffee annually with your fuel savings!
Above, the number of cups of coffee considering a regular large cup of coffee costs $2.19.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a primary pollutant and an unavoidable by-product of burning fossil fuels.

An effective way to reduce CO2 emissions is to eliminate unnecessary idling and avoid fuel waste.

Step 3- Check the Community emissions and savings
Myth- Even if I stop idling, my contribution is insignificant.

Fact-Transportation is the major source of greenhouse gases (GHG) in Central Okanagan.
In Central Okanagan, there are more than 99,000 vehicles on the road daily (Source: Household Survey 2018). If all cars on the road were the same size and idling the same as you, these are the possible community impacts:
Community CO2 that could be emitted (tonnes/year)
Community Idle fuel use (L/year)
The possible community emissions that could be avoided are equivalent to taking all these cars off the road yearly!
Possible number of cars off the road
Community idle fuel cost that could be saved ($/year)
Every litre of fuel and tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) that we collectively reduce counts!

Participating in a School Idling Reduction Awareness Campaign?
Your kid's school is participating in a School Idling Reduction Awareness Campaign Pledge?*
The grade(s) with more pledges will get great prizes! No personal information is collected. Only the school name and grade are needed.
What Central Okanagan school does your child attend?*
What grade level? *
Make a pledge!

Step 4-Pledge to turn off your vehicle and contribute to a cleaner community!
If idling is costing you and your family too much fuel and money. Please take a pledge and share this estimator to increase idling awareness*
What city/district do you live in?*
This form does not collect any personal information.
Reduce Emissions- Switch off your Ignition.

Together, we can limit local air pollution and the effects of climate change from human activities that we can control. Share the QR to increase Idling awareness!
The Idling Estimator was created by the Regional Air Quality Program- Central Okanagan, BC, Canada. Questions can be directed to airquality@kelowna.ca

Learn more about idling by checking out this RDCO Interactive story map.

Data Source: Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN)-

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/efficiency/communities-infrastructure/transportation/idling/4457

How much fuel and money can you save?