Acting Locally

After researching the issue of idling buses, we decided to try to make a difference. Here is the letter we sent to our state representative:

45700 Six Mile Road

Northville, MI 48168

February 20, 2011

Kurt Heise

Anderson House Office Bldg.
124 N. Capitol
N-699 House Office Building
Lansing, MI  48933

Dear Representative Kurt Heise,

            We’d like to bring to your attention the fact that the prolonged idling of school buses is harming the health of Michigan children. In Northville Public Schools, the buses idle for about twenty minutes in the morning and in the afternoon. These diesel fumes accumulate both around and on the buses during this time. Pollutants released include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides, sulfates, and soot. These have been proven to cause asthma and cancer. In addition, they are especially potent in children. A common myth is that idling is less harmful than stopping and restarting the engine. In fact, idling for more than three minutes produces 66% more pollution than stopping and restarting.

            On top of all these health and environmental issues, the cost of idling is significant. Running an engine at low speed (idling) actually causes twice the wear of driving full speed on a highway for the same amount of time. Idling consumes half a gallon of fuel per hour. For our high school alone, this adds up to 1200 gallons per year which costs about $4,000—money that could be going to much better use. 

            We have found two solutions for this issue:

            First, the EPA offers a State Clean Diesel Grant Program, as outlined in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This grant allocates an estimated amount of $18 million annually to a state that applies. This money must be used for retrofit technologies such as exhaust filters, catalytic converters, and alternate fuels; idle reduction technologies; technology from the EPA’s Emerging Technologies List; or the early replacement of buses with certified engine configurations.

            In addition, many states have already adopted legislation that limits the idling time of buses around schools. Michigan has not. The application of these measures would prevent the accumulation of toxins as well as save money.

Sincerely,

Catherine Culkin

Morgan Parsons

Becky Pokrandt

Michael Truong

And Mr. Szukaitis and Mr. Polanski's AP Environmental Science classes