8.                   idling control by-law

 

LA MARCHE AU RALENTI DES VÉHICULES

 

 

 

Committee recommendation

 

No Committee Recommendation.

 

 

Recommandation du Comité

 

Aucune recommandation du Comité.

 

 

Documentation

 

1.      Deputy City Manager, Planning, Transit and the Environment and Deputy City Manager, Community and Protective Services joint report dated 05 April 2007 (ACS2007-PTE-POL-0021).

 

2.   Extract of Draft Minutes, 24 April 2007, follows the French version of the report.

 


Report to/Rapport au :

 

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

05 April 2007 / le 05 avril 2007

 

Submitted by / Soumis par :  Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager/Directrice municipale adjointe,

Planning, Transit and the Environment / Urbanisme, Transport en commun et Environnement

 

and

 

Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City Manager / Directeur général adjoint,

Community and Protective Services / Services communautaires et de protection

 

Contact Persons / personnes-ressource :  Dennis Jacobs, Director / Directeur, Planning, Environment, Infrastructure and Policy Branch / Direction politique urbaine, environnement et infrastructure

580-2424 25521, dennis.jacobs@ottawa.ca

 

and

 

Susan Jones, Director / Directrice, By-law and Regulatory Services / Services des règlements municipaux

613-580-2424 25536, susan.jones@ottawa.ca

 

City-wide

Ref N°:ACS2007-PTE-POL-0021

 

 

SUBJECT:

BY-LAW – IDLING CONTROL BY-LAW

 

 

OBJET :

RÈGLEMENTS MUNICIPAUX –– LA MARCHE AU RALENTI DES VÉHICULES

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

That the Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council:

 

1.                  Enact the draft Idling Control By-law, attached as Document 1, with an effective date of September 1, 2007;


 

2.                  Amend section 10 of Noise By-law 2004-253 to clarify that this section will only apply to noise-related idling of motor vehicles where the temperature exceeds 27 degrees Celsius with the humidex or where the temperature is less than five degrees Celsius including the windchill value;

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS DU RAPPORT :

 

Que le Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement recommande au Conseil :

 

1.                  D’adopter le projet de Règlement municipal sur la marche au ralenti des véhicules, constituant le document 1 ci-joint, avec une date d'entrée en vigueur le 1er septembre 2007;

 

2.                  De modifier l'article 10 du Règlement municipal 2004-253 sur le bruit afin de préciser que cet article ne s'applique qu'au bruit causé par les véhicules dont le moteur tourne au ralenti lorsque la température est supérieure à 27 °C, avec le facteur humidex, ou inférieure à 5 °C, avec le facteur éolien.

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

Assumptions and Analysis:

 

The Planning and Environmental Committee approved a motion from the Environmental Advisory Committee, directing staff to bring forward an Idling Control By-law. 

 

The purpose of the proposed Idling Control By-law is to protect the environment and public health by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, smog and criteria air contaminants.  This by-law would contribute to achieving the City’s 20 per cent reduction target of greenhouse gas emissions within the community by 2012, approved by Council in the Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan.

 

The proposed by-law aims at reducing unnecessary idling and provides that no person shall cause or permit a vehicle to idle for more than three (3) consecutive minutes.  The by-law would not apply to occupied vehicles however when the temperature outside the vehicle is greater than twenty-seven degrees Celsius (27°C) including the humidex calculation or less than five degrees Celsius (5°C) including the windchill value as determined by the Environment Canada temperature readings.  The proposed by-law will allow for exemptions for specific vehicles and under certain situations.

 

Financial Implications:

 

There are no budget implications associated with implementing the recommendations as the existing base operating budgets in both the Public Health and the By-Law and Regulatory Services Branches can fund the public health campaign and the cost of enforcement respectively.

 

 

Public Consultation/Input:

 

The Environmental Advisory Committee reviewed the proposed Idling By-law on January 16, 2007 and fully supported it as evidenced in Document 4.

 

Ottawa Public Health has been consulted and also supports the proposed Idling By-law.

 

Fleet Services Branch was consulted and agrees with the Idling By-law.

 

The Environmental Sustainability Division of the Planning, Transit and the Environment Department has an on-going outreach program on Idling since 2003.  It has reached over 15 schools, distributed over 30,000 brochures to the community and mounted over 600 no-idling signs at community centres, arenas, libraries, and Client Service Centres.

 

 

RÉSUMÉ

 

Hypothèses et analyse :

 

Le Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement a approuvé une motion du Comité consultatif sur l'environnement enjoignant au personnel de rédiger un règlement municipal sur la marche au ralenti des véhicules.

 

Le règlement projeté sur la marche au ralenti des véhicules vise à protéger l'environnement et la santé publique en réduisant les émissions de gaz à effet de serre, le smog et les contaminants atmosphériques. Ce règlement aiderait à réduire de 20 % les émissions de gaz à effet de serre dans notre ville d'ici 2012, ce qui est l'ojectif approuvé par le Conseil dans le Plan de gestion de la qualité de l'air et des changements climatiques.

 

Le règlement projeté, qui vise à réduire la marche au ralenti inutile des véhicules, prévoit que personne ne doit laisser un véhicule marcher au ralenti pendant plus de trois (3) minutes consécutives. Le règlement ne s'appliquerait toutefois pas aux véhicules occupés lorsque la température à l'extérieur est supérieure à vingt-sept degrés Celcius (27°C) avec le facteur humidex, ou inférieure à cinq degrés Celcius (5°C) avec le facteur éolien, selon les données fournies par Environnement Canada. Le règlement projeté prévoira des exceptions pour certains véhicules et certaines situations.

 

Répercussions financières :

 

La mise en oeuvre de la recommandation n'a aucune incidence budgétaire, étant donné que les budgets de fonctionnement de base des directions de la Santé publique et des Services des règlements municipaux permettent de financer la campagne de sensibilisation à la santé publique et l'application du règlement.

 

 

Consultation publique / commentaires :

 

Le Comité consultatif sur l'environnement a examiné le projet de règlement sur la marche au ralenti des véhicules le 16 janvier 2007 et l'a appuyé pleinement, comme le montre le Document 4.

 

Santé publique Ottawa a été consulté et appuie également le projet de règlement sur la marche au ralenti des véhicules.

 

La Direction des services du parc automobile a été consultée. Elle accepte le règlement projeté.

 

La Division de la durabilité de l'environnement, Service de l'urbanisme, du transport en commun et de l'environnement, possède depuis 2003 un programme d'intervention portant sur la marche au ralenti des véhicules. Ce programme a donné lieu à des interventions dans plus de 15 écoles, à la diffusion d'au-delà de 30 000 brochures au sein de la population et à l'installation de plus de 600 enseignes sur la marche au ralenti des véhicules dans les centres communautaires, les arénas, les bibliothèques et les centres du service à la clientèle.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

At its October 10, 2006 meeting (ACS2006-CCV-EAC-0004), the Planning and Environment Committee approved a motion (Document 2) from the Environmental Advisory Committee, directing staff as follows:

 

§         To bring forward an anti-idling by-law to reduce idling by vehicles of both citizens in the community and by the Corporation’s fleet;

§         To remove or reduce existing exemptions in the Noise By-law 2004-253 (which currently addresses the issue of noise from idling vehicles);

§         To give bylaw parking enforcement officers the authority to warn or ticket owners of idling vehicles without the need for a citizen complaint beforehand;

§         To identify sources of widespread abuse; and

§         To identify required resources for education and enforcement of the by-law.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

Idling has been an on-going issue that has been raised by tourists visiting Ottawa as well as our citizens through e-mails to staff or Councillors and calls to 311.  Idling emits greenhouse gases and thereby contributes to climate change. Transportation emissions are the largest local source of smog and a large factor in respiratory illnesses resulting in 300 premature deaths each year in Ottawa, according to the 2005 study by the Ontario Medical Association.  Some well-documented illnesses caused by exposure to smog include: breathing difficulties; irritations to the lungs, eyes, nose and throat; chest tightness; coughing and wheezing; and exacerbating existing asthma as well as heart and lung conditions.  Children, seniors and persons with heart and lung illnesses are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollutants.


 

Limiting unnecessary idling through a by-law will improve the City’s air quality and help to protect the health of residents.  The Idling By-law would contribute to achieving the City’s 20 per cent greenhouse gases reduction targets within the community by 2012, as approved by Council in the Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan.  The Plan includes anti-idling campaigns as one of the continuing actions to reduce greenhouse gases and smog.

 

A by-law combined with public education is proven to have a significantly higher success rate than education alone, as demonstrated with the City of Ottawa Smoke-Free By-laws.  The proposed idling control by-law is similar to the by-law currently in place in the City of Toronto.

 

Recommendation 1 – Proposed By-law

 

Time Limit

 

In some circumstances, such as the initial start-up of heavy-duty diesel vehicles, some amount of idling is required to ensure proper function.  However, for most light vehicles and passenger vehicles, idling for 30 seconds is all that is required.  The proposed by-law aims at reducing unnecessary idling and provides that no person shall cause or permit a vehicle to idle for more than three (3) consecutive minutes.  This time limit is consistent with most existing idling by-laws including Toronto, Montreal and Victoria.  A time limit also facilitates enforcement by minimizing the amount of time an officer has to observe the idling.

 

Temperature Restrictions

 

Because of the extreme weather experienced in Ottawa and other Canadian municipalities, the by-law would not apply to occupied vehicles when the temperature outside the vehicle is greater than twenty-seven degrees Celsius (27°C) including the humidex calculation or less than five degrees Celsius (5°C) including the windchill value as determined by the Environment Canada temperature readings.

 

Exemptions

 

Similar to other cities, the by-law will allow for exemptions for specific vehicles and under certain situations.  These include:

 

§         Vehicles assisting in an emergency activity;

§         Mobile workshops (refuse collection vehicles)

§         When idling is required for repair or to prepare for service

§         Armoured vehicles

§         When vehicles are required to remain motionless because of any emergency, traffic, weather condition or mechanical difficulty over which the person driving the vehicle has no control.

§         Vehicles engaged in a parade or race or any other event authorized by Council

§         Private transit vehicles while passengers are embarking or disembarking en route or in terminals

§         Vehicles transporting a person with a medical condition requiring that temperature or humidity be maintained within a certain range

§         Vehicles engaged in providing City services which vehicles shall be subject to the City’s more restrictive Vehicle and Equipment Idling Policy

§         Vehicles engaged in normal farming practices

§         Any vehicle that eliminates the emission of greenhouse gases and criteria air contaminants during the idling phase of operation

 

Corporate Fleet

 

The Committee’s direction was for all City vehicles (Corporate Fleet) to be included in the proposed idling by-law.  However, staff recommends its exclusion since the City’s Corporate Vehicle and Equipment Idling Policy (Document 3), with an idling time limit of one (1) minute, is more restrictive than what is being proposed in the by-law.

 

The Corporate Policy applies to all City-owned, or leased, vehicles and equipment, and to those contractors/agents hired to complete work on behalf of the City.  The Société du transport de l’Outaouais (STO) has agreed to follow the more restrictive policy.

 

Vehicles that eliminate greenhouse gases and criteria air contaminants during the idling phase of operation

 

Currently there are several different types of vehicles on the market that are equipped with an on-board rechargeable energy storage system that helps to eliminate or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and criteria air contaminants.  One of these is the Petroleum Electric Hybrid Vehicle that uses electricity to supplement another fuel source and allows the internal combustion engine to shut down during the idling phase of operation.

 

In 2007, several manufacturers have announced that future vehicles will use aspects of hybrid technology to reduce fuel consumption without the use of electric motors to drive the vehicle.  Regenerative braking can be used to recapture energy and store it to power electrical accessories, such as air conditioning.  This will also allow for the shutting down of the internal combustion engine while idling.

 

As these vehicles will emit very little, if any greenhouse gases or criteria air contaminants, staff propose they be exempt from the regulations of the Idling Control By-law.

 

Enforcement

 

It is recommended that given the nature of their work, it is appropriate for the City’s Parking Enforcement Officers to assume responsibility for enforcing the by-law.  It is further recommended that the City implement a proactive and reactive enforcement campaign that would promote compliance through education, investigating complaints and periodic enforcement blitzes in targeted problem areas.  A public awareness campaign would also be implemented which would include public notification through media releases whenever an enforcement blitz would take place.  The proposed enforcement strategy, which is similar to the City of Toronto, would take a zero tolerance approach to excessive idling with the concept that ticketing would be an effective deterrent and promote overall compliance.


 

If adopted, the proposed by-law would take effect on September 1, 2007.  Following on the success of the compliance campaign of the City’s Smoke-Free By-laws, it is also recommended that enforcement initially focus on education and public awareness of the by-law until the end of 2007.  Officers would not begin to issue tickets until 2008.  Staff will be applying to the Minister of the Attorney General for set fines in the range of $100.

 

Given Council’s recent approval for additional resources in the By-law and Regulatory Services Branch 2007 budget, the revenue generated by the hiring of additional parking control officers will offset the cost of enforcement for the new Idling Control By-law.

 

Public Education Campaign

 

Notice will be provided to the public of a new by-law.  This will be done through newspaper ads and small radio ad spots on both French and English stations.  Under the recommended strategy, enforcement officers during 2007 would use brochures to educate the public on the benefits of reducing unnecessary idling.  Small metal signage will be posted in known problem areas and will be available on request (e.g. by a parent group at a school).  CD’s containing Anti-Idling materials that fit into the K-Gr. 6 curriculum (posters, brochures) will also be used in the education campaign.  These materials were developed during the anti-idling campaign conducted by City staff in 2003 with funding from Natural Resources Canada and in partnership with Friends of the Earth.

 

City staff will also be available to give presentations at schools using the material in the CD kit.  The CDs would be provided to the teachers prior to the presentation to integrate into their classroom activities and allow for interaction between the children and the enforcement officer at the time of the presentation.

 

An education campaign with these components would cost $10,000 and can be financed from the existing Public Health budget for air quality related initiatives.

 

Recommendation 2 - Amendment of Noise By-law 2004-253

 

There is currently a section in Noise By-law 2004-253, as amended, to address the issue of noise from idling vehicles.  Should the proposed by-law be approved, Section 10 of the Noise By-law should be amended to capture the noise-related idling where the temperature exceeds 27 degrees Celsius with the humidex calculation or where the temperature is less than five degrees Celsius including the windchill value.  Under those circumstances, a vehicle is permitted to idle under the Idling Control By-law, however if noise becomes an issue, this amendment would operate in situations when the Idling Control By-law does not apply for noise-related vehicle idling.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Limiting unnecessary idling through a by-law would improve the City’s air quality and help to protect the health of residents.  The Idling Control By-law would contribute to achieving the City’s 20 per cent greenhouse gases reduction targets within the community by 2012.  The City’s Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan includes anti-idling campaigns as one of the continuing actions to reduce greenhouse gases and smog.

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The Idling Control By-law provides for normal farm practices which means practices:

·        that are conducted in a manner consistent with proper and acceptable customs and standards as established and followed by similar agricultural operations under similar circumstances;

·        that make use of innovative technology in a manner consistent with proper advanced farm management practices.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no budget implications associated with implementing the recommendations as the existing base operating budgets in both the Public Health and the By-Law and Regulatory Services branches can fund the public health campaign and the cost of enforcement respectively.

 

 

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

 

The Environmental Advisory Committee reviewed the proposed Idling Control By-law on January 16th, 2007 and fully supported it as evidenced in Document 4.

 

Ottawa Public Health has been consulted and also supports the proposed Idling By-law.

 

Fleet Services Branch was consulted and agrees with the Idling By-law.

 

The Environmental Sustainability Division of the Planning, Transit and the Environment Department has an on-going outreach program on Idling since 2003.  It has reached over 15 schools, distributed over 30,000 brochures to the community and mounted over 600 no-idling signs at community centres, arenas, libraries, and Client Service Centres.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1      Draft Idling Control By-law

Document 2      Planning and Environment Committee Motion

Document 3      Corporate Vehicle and Equipment Idling Policy

Document 4      Idling By-law Support Motion

 

Due to their technical nature, these attachments are available in English only. The City of Ottawa may translate these document or parts thereof on request. Requests for translation should be forwarded to Carol Christensen at Carol.Christensen@ottawa.ca or 613-580-2424, ext. 21610 or to the French Language Services Division at DSF-FLSD@ottawa.ca or 613-580-2424, ext. 21536.

 


 

DISPOSITION

 

Community and Protective Services to administer.  Corporate Services, Legal Services Branch, in consultation with the Community and Protective Services Department to process the proposed by-law to Council for enactment.  Environmental Sustainability Division will coordinate production of education materials.


DRAFT IDLING CONTROL BY-LAW                                                                 DOCUMENT 1

 

BY-LAW NO. 2007-

 

                        A by-law of the City of Ottawa to control the idling of vehicles.

 

                        The Council of the City of Ottawa enacts as follows:

 

                        DEFINITIONS

 

1.                     In this by-law,

 

“idle” means the operation of the engine of a vehicle while the vehicle is not in motion and not being used to operate auxiliary equipment that is essential to the basic function of the vehicle and “idling” has a corresponding meaning;

 

“mobile workshop” means,

(a)                a vehicle containing equipment or in association with the vehicle, or

(b)               a vehicle serving as a facility for taking measurements or making observations which is operated by or on behalf of a municipal utility or a police, fire or ambulance service vehicle;

 

“normal farm practice” means a practice that,

(a)                is conducted in a manner consistent with proper and acceptable customs and standards as established and followed by similar agricultural operations under similar circumstances, or

(b)               makes use of innovative technology in a manner consistent with proper advanced farm management practices;

 

“private transit vehicles” means tour buses, school buses and motor coaches;

 

“vehicle” means a motor vehicle, trailer, traction engine, farm tractor or road building machine as defined in the Highway Traffic Act and any vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of non-muscular power but does not include cars of electric or diesel electric railways running on rails.

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

2.                     No person shall cause or permit a vehicle to idle for more than three (3) consecutive minutes in a sixty (60) minute period.

 

3.                     Section 2 shall not apply to,

(a)                vehicles assisting in an emergency activity;

(b)               mobile workshops while they are in the course of being used for their basic function;

(c)                vehicles where idling is required to repair the vehicle or prepare it for service;

(d)               armoured vehicles where a person remains inside the vehicle while guarding the contents of the vehicle or while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded;

(e)                vehicles required to remain motionless because of any emergency, traffic, weather condition or mechanical difficulty over which the person driving the vehicle has no control;

(f)                 vehicles engaged in a parade or race or any other event authorized by Council;

(g)                private transit vehicles while passengers are embarking or disembarking en route or in terminals;

(h)                vehicles transporting a person where a medical doctor certifies in writing that for medical reasons a person in the vehicle requires that temperature or humidity be maintained within a certain range;

(i)                  occupied vehicles when the temperature outside the vehicle is greater than twenty-seven degrees Celsius (27°C) including the humidex calculation or less than five degrees Celsius (5°C) including the windchill value as determined by the Environment Canada temperature readings;

(j)                 vehicles engaged in providing City services which vehicles shall be subject to the City’s Vehicle and Equipment Idling Policy dated June, 2002, Number FS01;

(k)               vehicles engaged in a normal farm practice; or

(l)                  vehicles that eliminate the emission of greenhouse gases and criteria air contaminants during the idling phase of operation.

 

ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

 

4.                 The Director of By-law and Regulatory Services is responsible for the administration of this by-law, including the enforcement thereof.

 

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

 

5.         (1)        Every person who contravenes any of the provisions of this by-law is guilty of an offence.

 

          (2)      Every person who is convicted of an offence under this by-law is liable to a fine as provided for in the Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O 1990, Chapter P. 33, as amended.

 

6.                 When a person has been convicted of an offence under this by-law,

                    (a)    the Ontario Court of Justice, or

                    (b)    any court of competent jurisdiction thereafter,

may, in addition to any other penalty imposed on the person convicted, make  an order prohibiting the continuation or repetition of the offence by the person convicted.

 

INTERPRETATION

 

7.       (1)      In this by-law,

                    (a)    words importing the singular number only, include more persons, parties or things of the same kind than one (1) and the converse; and

                    (b)    a word interpreted in the singular number has a corresponding meaning when used in the plural.

 

          (2)    If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision or part of a provision of this by-law to be invalid or of no force and effect, it is the intention of the Council in enacting this by-law, that each and every provision of this by-law be applied and enforced in accordance with its terms to the extent possible according to law.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

8.                 This by-law shall come into force and take effect on September 1, 2007.

 

SHORT TITLE

 

9.                 This by-law may be referred to as the “Idling Control By-law”.

 

 

 

                  ENACTED AND PASSED this           day of                 , 2007

 

 

 

 

                          CITY CLERK                                     MAYOR

 

 


 

PLANNING AND EVNIRONMENT COMMITTEE MOTION                        DOCUMENT 2

 

 

That the Environmental Advisory Committee recommend that the Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council:

 

1.           Direct staff to prepare, by February 2007, a standalone by-law to reduce idling by vehicles of both citizens in the community and by corporate fleets and that staff consider the following as part of the by-law:

 

a)         Removing or reducing existing exemptions, particularly those extended to the bus transit companies such as OC Transpo and Gatineau’s STO and to inter-city and tour bus, and school board contracted bus fleets when their buses are parked while idling in downtown core areas;

 

b)         Giving bylaw parking enforcement officers the authority to warn or ticket owners of idling vehicles without the need for a citizen complaint beforehand;

 

c)                 Identifying sources of widespread abuse of anti-idling by the community-at-large, as for example, in the picking up of students from school;

2.         That the report include the needed resources to educate and enforce the by-law.

 

3.         Approve that the EAC receive a copy of the staff review when the report goes for action to Committee and Council.


CORPORATE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT IDLING POLICY                      DOCUMENT 3

 

Section

Corporate Services

Subject Area

Fleet Services 

Title

Corporate Vehicle and Equipment Idling policy 

Authority

Ron Gillespie, Director Fleet Services

Effective Date

June, 2002

Number

FS01

 

Policy Statement

Reduction of emissions from idling is essential for the entire fleet of vehicles and equipment in use by the City of Ottawa.  For this reason the following policy is to be followed while using City owned or leased vehicles and equipment (including those equipped with air conditioning systems):

 

·        Vehicles shall never be left idling when unattended.

·        Engine warm-up periods will not exceed one minute (provided required airbrake pressure and/or other critical settings have been reached).

·        Vehicles will be shut off whenever idling time is expected to exceed one minute.

·        Transit buses on lay-by during the period from April 15 through to October 15 must shut down engines when the lay-by is expected to exceed one minute, observing proper shutdown procedures (one minute low idle before shut down).

Purpose

The policy is serves to:

 

 

Vehicle and equipment idling has a significant impact upon the environment.  The key areas of environmental impact are air quality and fuel consumption.  Air quality is affected by the creation of smog (ozone in the lower levels of the atmosphere and production of carbon monoxide).  Short-term immediate effects on people (and animals) is a reduced ability to be active outdoors due to respiratory problems.  Long-term effects are much more serious.  Those with asthma and related disorders are even more severely affected.  The effect of increased fuel consumption causes an increase in production of green house gases, and inefficient use of our limited fossil fuel resources, and unnecessary fuel costs to the City.


Application

All City owned, leased and/or rented vehicles and equipment.

Policy Description

Exceptions to this policy only exist under the following circumstances:

 

a)      For vehicle maintenance and diagnostic purposes (to be kept to an absolute required minimum);

b)      Under extreme weather conditions or any other time when the health and safety of employees or others may be jeopardized;

c)      If the unit is not expected to be able to restart due to a mechanical problem (must be repaired ASAP);

d)      Emergency response units while on an emergency scene;

e)      Transit vehicles in revenue service while carrying passengers.

f)        Unless the engine is immediately required to power auxiliary equipment (e.g. hoist, lift platform, hydraulic tools, inverters, compactors, medical equipment, computers, etc.).

 

Definitions

“Lay-by” is non-revenue time spent before the start of the next trip.

Legislated & Administrative Authorities

Fleet Emission Reduction Strategy, approved by City Council on March 27, 2002

Key Word Search

Emergency                   Idling

Emissions                     Smog

Equipment                    Transit

Fuel                              Vehicle

Green

Contact

Corporate Services, Fleet Services Branch, Fleet Operational Support & Policy Division


Appendix 1

Definitions

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

 

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless and odourless gas.  It is the product of incomplete combustion of fossil or organic fuel (including cigarette smoke).  This gas (when absorbed by the body) inhibits the blood’s ability to transport oxygen to the body.

 

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

 

Carbon Dioxide is produced by a “complete” combustion process, and is not toxic to the human body.  It is however one of the main causes of the so-called green house effect.  It is produced in large quantities by power generation plants, home heating, and road traffic.  The only way to reduce the output of carbon dioxide is to cut back on the processes that produce it.

 

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

 

Nitrogen dioxide is part of a group of gasses called nitrogen oxides (oxides of nitrogen) NOx.  The majority of nitrous oxides in vehicle exhausts are in the form of nitric oxide (NO), which is not considered a health hazard.  Unfortunately it has the tendency to react with other gasses in the environment producing nitrogen dioxide.  Nitrogen Dioxide is harmful to the health (irritation and inflammation of the lungs) and also a major component in the formation of low-level ozone.

 

Low (ground) level Ozone (O3)

 

Ozone in the upper atmosphere is an important protective shield for the earth from harmful ultra violet radiation.  Unfortunately, ozone on the ground is a serious pollutant.  Ozone is not directly produced by vehicle emissions, but rather produced be a complicated set of chemical reactions between nitrous oxides and hydrocarbons, both of which are produced by vehicle emissions.  Interestingly, ozone is destroyed by nitric oxide that is also produced by vehicles.  Concentrations of ozone therefore are usually fairly low in high traffic areas, but tends to peak in urban areas such as parks and outlying areas.  Ozone (like nitrogen dioxide) tends to irritate and inflame the lungs.

 

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

 

Sulphur dioxide is formed when fuels containing Sulphur (such as coal and diesel fuel) are burned.  It is also produced in large quantities naturally (like volcanoes).  Short-term exposure may cause coughing, tightening of the chest and irritation of the lungs.  Low Sulphur diesel fuels are currently being phased in.

 


 

Hydrocarbons (including Benzene)

 

This is a group of chemicals referred to in general discussions on traffic pollution.  An important sub-group is the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).  These compounds play a major role in the formation of ground level ozone.  It does not only comprise of combustion products, but also evaporated fumes from fuels and other volatile compounds.

 

Lead (Pb)

 

Air-borne lead was mostly produced by the combustion of leaded gasoline, but has been virtually eliminated due to the introduction and use of lead-free gasoline.

 

Particulate emissions

 

Particulate pollution can be various materials and from various sources.  It can be dessert sand; sea salt or carbon particles (black smoke) produced in internal combustion engines.  It can survive in the atmosphere for a very long time depending on particle size.  Diesel engines produce significantly more particulate emissions then gasoline engines.  The small size of the particles allows them to be sucked deep into the lungs, causing problems later in life due to reduced lung capacity.


Appendix 2

Idling facts and statistics

·        Car, truck and bus emissions are the single largest source of smog-causing pollutants in Ontario.  These emissions can be harmful to human health and the natural environment.

 

·        Smog and acid rain is a problem in many urban areas with a large number of motor vehicles.  It is linked to a rise in respiratory ailments.

 

·        The Ontario Ministry of Transportation estimates that an idling gasoline vehicle with an average-sized engine uses about 2.2 litres of fuel per hour and that an idling diesel truck engine uses about 3 litres of fuel per hour.  Reducing idling time by 10 minutes a day translates into a total of 60.8 hours a year and fuel savings of more than 100 L.

 

·        The City of Ottawa currently owns more than 3000 vehicles of all shapes and sizes.  If each could reduce idling by as little as 5 minutes per day, the City would save as much as 143.000 Litres of fuel per year.

 

·        Contrary to popular belief, turning off and starting an engine uses LESS fuel than letting the engine run for 30 seconds.  An idling vehicle emits nearly 20 times more air pollution than one traveling at 50 km/hr.  Engine wear is greater at prolonged idle than during normal operation.  Although some fuels pollute less than others, they ALL contribute to pollution and are therefore equally affected by this policy.

 

Date of Revision:  June 6, 2002

 

 

 


IDLING BY-LAW SUPPORT MOTION                                                               DOCUMENT 4

 

 

(FINAL) IDLING BYLAW SUPPORT MOTION

 

AGENDA ITEM 2, EAC MEETING JAN 16, 2007

 

Whereas toxic gas and particulate matter emissions from motor vehicles damage human health, resulting in over 300 premature deaths and $ 80 million of health costs per year in the City of Ottawa alone, according to a 2005 study of the Ontario Medical Association;

 

And whereas emissions from vehicles may be reduced through measures to stop unnecessary idling;

 

And whereas idling of motor vehicles adds to the emission of greenhouse gases and greater impacts from climate change;

 

And whereas staff have prepared a draft idling bylaw which could significantly reduce these emissions if the public were made aware of the need to reduce idling and if staff proactively enforces the bylaw’s provisions;

 

Therefore be it resolved that the Environmental Advisory Committee supports the proposed pilot project for the idling bylaw and recommends that Council direct staff to put the bylaw into effect as soon as possible;

 

And be it further recommended that Council direct staff to prepare a communications plan in consultation with EAC for educating the community and city employees on the need to reduce idling;

 

And be it further resolved that the EAC staff coordinator is requested to make members of Council aware of this motion before approval of the bylaw is discussed.

 

 

Prepared by Bill Pugsley

January 17, 2007