A New Sustainability Initiative
by Lauren Winkler
More than twenty five years ago, when I was living in Germany, I noticed that nearly all drivers turned off their vehicle engines when stopped at a traffic light. It was one of many cultural differences I observed that sparked my curiosity. A German friend explained, while pointing out a young mother pushing her bundled baby in a sturdy pram, that this was done “for the air, for everyone, but mostly for the children!”
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous air pollutants emitted from vehicles, also known as mobile air toxics, have the potential for serious adverse health effects, including cancer, respiratory illness and birth defects. Children are particularly susceptible to air pollution and these risks for several reasons. Their smaller stature exposes them to higher concentrations of vehicle emissions that are close to the ground. Also, children’s developing lungs have a smaller surface area and a higher inhalation rate, which means greater exposure and potentially permanent damage to lung function. While the average adult respiratory rate is 12-18 breaths/minute, very young children have a respiratory rate of 20-40 breaths/minute, and older children take 15-25 breaths/minute.
Sample monitoring of air quality at schools by the EPA has shown elevated levels of air toxics during the afternoon hours coinciding with parents picking up their children. Idling engines, at any time of day, produce thousands of tons of toxic pollution per year. Limiting idling can dramatically reduce these pollutants and children’s exposure to them.
In light of this information and in step with numerous other schools in the Washington, DC area, the Stone Ridge Sustainability Committee is introducing a new initiative to help protect the air quality near playgrounds and on our campus.
Look for newly posted signs that encourage all persons operating vehicles at the school to adhere to the following guidelines:
- When waiting for students to be picked up, all engines should be shut off.
- All drivers should turn off engines when they arrive at school and when they expect to be parked for more than 10 seconds.
- If idling is necessary for temperature control, please restrict it to no more than 5 minutes.
Stone Ridge is implementing this policy to reduce our students’ exposure to air toxics emitted from idling vehicles. We encourage everyone to eliminate unnecessary idling not only at our school but anywhere you are waiting for more than 10 seconds. This simple change will improve the air quality for all of us, and especially for our children! Thank you for helping us show our love for our community and our campus.