Evaluating Iding
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Evaluating Iding: Part A - Idling Control Policies And Part B – An Analysis of the Region of Waterloo Idling Control Protocol Written by Belinda Laszlo ID# 98127377 ERS 490s Advisor Professor Robert Gibson Faculty of Environmental Resource Studies University of Waterloo April 03 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION . 6 1.1 Question Statements . 6 1.2 Methods . 7 PART A – IDLING CONTROL POLICIES 2.0 WHAT IS IDLING? . 11 2.1 Types of Anti-Idling Policies . 11 2.2 The Benefits of Anti-Idling Policies . 14 2.3 The Costs of and Barriers to Idling Control Policies . 15 3.0 IDLING CONTROL POLICY CASES IN ONTARIO . 16 4.0 IDLING CONTROL POLICY CASES IN OTHER PARTS OF CANADA . 18 5.0 INTERNATIONAL IDLING CONTROL POLICY CASES . 20 6.0 A COMPARISON OF THE SELECTED IDLING CONTROL POLICIES . 22 6.1 The Comparison Charts . 22 6.2 Discussion of the Results . 26 7.0 PART A CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . 31 PART B – AN ANALYSIS OF THE REGION OF WATERLOO IDLING CONTROL PROTOCOL 8.0 THE REGION OF WATERLOO IDLING CONTROL PROTOCOL . 33 8.1 Origins of the Region of Waterloo Idling Control Protocol . 33 8.2 Implementation of the Waterloo Region Idling Control Protocol . 35 9.0 THE EXEMPTIONS . 37 10.0 PART B CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . 45 11.0 SUMMARY . 47 2 13.0 REFERENCES . 49 APPENDIX A – Waterloo Region Idling Control Policy APPENDIX B – University of Waterloo Ethical Clearance Forms 3 Executive Summary Governments have taken many different approaches to reducing air pollution from on and off road vehicles. Specifically targeting vehicle “idling” has been one particular approach. Idling a vehicle is allowing the engine to run for over ten seconds while the vehicle is not in motion (CACAQ, 2002). This report examines the range of idling control policy approaches now in use, and provides a more detailed assessment of the Idling Control Protocol in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario. The report is divided into two main parts, Part A, “Idling Control Policies,” explains what idling is, identifies the main current types of idling control policies and considers the general benefits and costs and the barriers to the various types of anti-idling policies in Ontario, other Canadian provinces and internationally. Specific cases of anti-idling policies representing different types of approaches are then compared using specific criteria to determine what is the best way to stop people from idling their vehicles. Part B of this report, “Evaluating the Region of Waterloo Idling Control Protocol,” aims to answer three main questions: • How did the Region of Waterloo’s Idling Control Protocol come into existence? • Are the exemptions contained within the Idling Control Protocol necessary or can they be altered or eliminated to reduce the amount of air pollution being created and released into the atmosphere? • If some or all of the exemptions were altered or eliminated, how much of a difference would be made in the quality of air in the Region of Waterloo? 4 Part A discussion reveals that no one type of idling control policy can be proclaimed as the “best.” The three different types of idling control policies have strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it makes sense to consider combinations of the three idling control policies. Lessons from experience, (especially in Canada), also suggest there are benefits from having a higher level of government establish and enforce the policy instead of relying exclusively on lower levels of government. One gain would be reduction of the duplication that results from various municipalities discussing and researching the issue of idling control initiatives independently. The Part B discussion concludes that the Waterloo Region Idling Control Protocol is a solid policy. Nevertheless, exemptions in the Waterloo Region Idling Control Protocol could be changed to make the policy more efficient and effective. Together with the education campaign being initiated to inform the public of the negative aspects of unnecessary idling and the implementation of the Idling Control Protocol, the Region of Waterloo and its Citizens Advisory Committee on Air Quality (CACAQ) are pioneering new types of regional policies aimed to protect the environment. 5 1.0 Introduction Air quality degradation is a major, far-reaching and extensively interconnected global environmental problem. According to the Ontario Medical Association, air pollution triggers more than 1900 premature deaths in Ontario a year (OMA, 2001). "Each summer the air we breathe is getting worse. Smog levels have reached crisis proportions and action is needed now in order to reduce the poisons in the air that are directly affecting our health," said Dr. Ken Sky, President of the OMA (OMA, 2001). One of the primary causes of smog is the exhaust from cars, trucks, sports utility vehicles and other on and off road machines powered by fossil fuels (CACAQ, 2002). “The burning of petroleum products causes excessive carbon dioxide and other pollutants to enter our air, contributing to air pollution, and potential global warming and climate change” (CACAQ, 2002). To reduce air pollution from on and off road vehicles, governments have taken many different approaches. Specifically targeting vehicle “idling” has been one particular approach. Idling a vehicle is allowing the engine to run for over ten seconds while the vehicle is not in motion (CACAQ, 2002). 1.1 Question statements This report examines the range of idling control policy approaches now in use, and provides a more detailed assessment of the Idling Control Protocol in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario. The report is divided into two main parts, Part A, “Idling Control Policies,” explains what idling is, identifies the main current types of idling control policies and considers the general benefits and costs and the barriers to the various types of anti-idling policies in Ontario, other Canadian provinces and internationally. Specific 6 cases of anti-idling policies representing different types of approaches are then compared using specific criteria to determine what is the best way to stop people from idling their vehicles. Part B of this report, “Evaluating the Region of Waterloo Idling Control Protocol,” aims to answer three main questions: • How did the Region of Waterloo’s Idling Control Protocol come into existence? • Are the exemptions contained within the Idling Control Protocol necessary or can they be altered or eliminated to reduce the amount of air pollution being created and released into the atmosphere? • If some or all of the exemptions were altered or eliminated, how much of a difference would be made in the quality of air in the Region of Waterloo? 1.2 Methods To answer the questions in part A of this report about idling, idling control policies, and the associated benefits, costs and barriers, a thorough literature review has been undertaken. Additional information was obtained from the Region of Waterloo’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee to Air Quality (CACAQ) and several different levels of Canadian government. To identify the various types of idling control policies that exist around the world, an expansive search of the Internet was conducted. This included a systematic look at government websites of several countries. While the search focused on Canada; anti- idling initiatives found elsewhere in the world were also identified and considered. A literature review and contact with CACAQ also helped to identify idling control cases. 7 From the results of the idling control policy search, a representative set of policy anti-idling initiatives were selected to be subjected for examination using criteria to judge the likely effectiveness of each type of policy. The selection of the cases was primarily based on identifying cases from different geographical areas to represent the main types of idling control policies being pursued by different levels of government. The “effectiveness” criteria, used to compare the various types of cases of idling control policies, are as follows: 1. Motivation - The ability of the specific measure to draw upon effective incentives or disincentives that should discourage people from idling their vehicles. Sub-criteria include the following: a) Economic motivation – e.g. expectations of saving money on gas and potentially vehicle maintenance, fines (CACAQ, 2002); b) Social motivation - especially inducing a social pressure to stop idling; c) Environmental concern motivation – desires to stop idling to reduce environmental harm from poor air quality; d) Human health concern motivation - desires to stop idling to reduce negative human health effects of degraded air quality. 2. Information Element – This complements motivation and the relevant information should be linked to the main concerns and the main benefits of idling reduction. The key factors include: a) Retention of the information – will people remember to stop idling based on the method through which the information is distributed? 8 b) Efficiency of the method of education – how well is the information being distributed? c) Level of information – how in depth is the information being distributed? 3. Scope – What is the reach of the initiative? a) What is the geographic area in which people are being targeted? b) What is the type of approach? - to reach a large audience (most vehicle owners and operators)? c) What is the diversity of people receiving information? d) How many people are being reached by information - are you reaching everyone possibly idling? 4. Efficiency – This criterion basically addresses the cost-effectiveness of the program. a) Is every dollar of the program cost being spent in the best way possible? b) Would another type of initiative offer better results at less cost? 5. Linkages to other environmental initiatives – This is important because anti-idling policies are not the only way governments can reduce air pollution from vehicles. For example, education to use the private automobile less, support for public transportation, investment in renewable energy, more use of the bicycle, walking, improve the Ontario provincial drive clean program, encouraging low emission vehicles, removing some stop signs, proper timing of traffic lights, etc.