UCAIR Idle Free Education
Last Call to Participate!
We’re still looking for 1 or 2 more elementary or middle schools in the targeted zip codes to participate in this year’s Idle Free Education Program.
Please reach out by December 6, 2024 to Mallory DiazVela, Program Manager at mallory@ucair.org or 801-536-0086.
The program is scheduled to begin in January 2025.
The True Costs of Idling
Every minute your engine idles, our kids pay the price. Vehicle emissions from idling are a significant threat to air quality and the health of our community, especially for children whose developing lungs are vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution.
UCAIR’s Idle Free Education program, sponsored by Enbridge, is dedicated to raising awareness about the harmful effects of vehicle idling on air quality and encouraging behavioral change to protect the health of Utah’s youth.
How is UCAIR Addressing Idling?
UCAIR is bringing citizen science projects to select elementary and middle schools in Salt Lake and Granite School Districts to reduce vehicle idling in school pick-up zones. This project aims to raise awareness about the harms of idling and reduce idling behavior while providing students with hands-on learning.
Measuring the Impact of Idle Free Education
A recent University of Utah study shows that Idle Free education at a Utah elementary school reduced the number of idling vehicles and overall idling time. The number of idling cars decreased by 17% after the campaign, and total idling time decreased by 37%. We expect similar significant outcomes from our program.
How the Program Works
The program will involve a series of observation periods, where volunteers, including school staff, parents, and students, will monitor and count the number of idling vehicles during school pick-up times. These observations will take place before and after the launch of an idle-free educational campaign at participating schools. The data collected will help measure the effectiveness of these campaigns in reducing idling.
Get Involved
Join us in making a difference! Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or school staff member, your participation in the Idle Free Education program can have a lasting impact on your school environment and the wider community. Together, we can reduce vehicle idling, improve air quality, and protect the health of Utah’s youth.
We are currently seeking interested schools to participate from the following zip codes:
- 84116
- 84104
- 84120
- 84119
- 84129
- 84123
- 84128
More Information
This program is made possible by our partners at Enbridge, a first-choice energy delivery company.
