Policy Title

Employees and students using personal or Winthrop University gasoline or diesel powered passenger vehicles and light trucks should turn them off if idling more than 30 seconds. Larger diesel vehicles operating under heavy load should be allowed to idle for 3 minutes to cool down. Vehicles should not be left running while unattended. The operator of the vehicle/equipment should turn off the unit and remove the keys from the ignition.

Visitors to campus, including buses and contractor/vendor vehicles, are subject to the same policy as employees and students and will be asked to comply.

This policy does not apply if it creates a safety issue, for stationary patrol by Winthrop Campus Police, disrupts work, or if the outside temperature is between -10 and 32 degrees F or greater than 90 degrees F.

Supporting Research and Analysis:

Policy developed by Sustainability Committee, with input from Campus Police and Human Resources. Reviewed and approved by Executive Officers.

Background Research:

Idling a vehicle 10 minutes a day uses more than 25 gallons of gasoline a year. Cars do not need to be warmed up except in below-zero conditions.

An idling engine produces twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine in motion.

Idling engines contribute unnecessarily to global warming through emissions of greenhouse gases.

An idling engine is not operating at its peak temperature, which means fuel combustion is incomplete. Soot deposits can accumulate on cylinder walls leading to oil contamination and damaged components. Idling, while warming an engine, does not warm the wheel bearings, steering, transmission and tires--only driving does this.

Idling a diesel-powered engine for over 30 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine.

Idling a gasoline-powered engine for over 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine.