Breathe Better (B2) is an anti-idling, clean air education program promoted by DHEC's Bureau of Air Quality. The goal of B2 is to help protect public health and improve air quality by reducing harmful vehicle emissions around school campuses and other public spaces.
B2 is is engaging community partners to help encourage all South Carolinians to turn off their engines while they wait. Schools and businesses can sign up to receive free educational and outreach materials to help make their campuses and parking lots idle-free zones that are healthier for students, employees, visitors and the community.
Idling means that a vehicle's engine is turned on but the vehicle is not in motion. Idling vehicles pollute the air and get you nowhere – wasting gas and money.
Mobile sources of air pollution such as personal vehicles, school buses and delivery trucks are major contributors to air pollution in South Carolina. Vehicle exhaust contains many pollutants that are linked to asthma and other lung diseases, allergies, heart disease, increased risk of infections and cancer, and other health problems.
Five minutes of idling wastes enough gas to travel ¾ of a mile and releases many harmful pollutants. Just 30 seconds of idling can use more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it.