Our ongoing campaign is our “No Engine Idling” campaign.
What is Engine Idling?
Engine idling is any time your car engine is running but you’re not moving, usually for more than 10-20 seconds. e.g. waiting outside school, at a red light, roadworks, etc.
Why should we stop Engine Idling?
Running a car without going anywhere just doesn’t make any sense! Here are four reasons why:
Environment: When an engine is running, it emits carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change. By switching off your engine when stopped, you stop these emissions too!
Health: Idling makes for worse air quality, which is bad for human health. Young people are at greater risk of the health impacts of air pollution because their lungs are still developing.
Money: Idling wastes fuel that you’re paying for - that just burns a hole in your pocket!
Safety: When cars and buses are idling outside a school, it is harder for students to hear cars that are actually moving, which might be hidden behind the idling cars.
St. Comgall’s N.S. Action Plan to STOP ENGINE IDLING!
• Learn why idling is bad for the environment and our health
• Conduct an idling survey and record the data
• Include a “No Idling” campaign in your Action Plan
• Raise awareness - share information with your family and friends
• Design your own “No Idling” slogan, poster and/or logo
• Create a letter to send home and share with your local community about our campaign
• Ask parents and members of the community to sign a pledge to stop idling
• Promote walking, carpooling, taking the bus and cycling
A letter explaining engine idling and the effects it has on the environment and our health along with a “No Idling” pledge was sent home with the pupils for parents to sign. Members of our community also signed our pledge. Thank you to the parents, grandparents, postman, priest, travelling teachers, staff members and members of the wider community who has signed our “No Idling” pledge and are keeping this pledge daily.
The pupils entered a competition to come up with our Travel slogan. Seán Connolly’s entry was picked as the winning slogan by our Board of Management. Our slogan is “Turn Off Your Ignitions for Less Emissions!”. The winning slogan is displayed in a prominent position on our Green-Schools noticeboard. Parents and the wider community were notified of the winning slogan in our newsletter where we included a picture of the winning poster.
