Device will help cut down on idling.

We all know that cars use a lot of gas, and emissions coming from the tail pipe aren't good for the environment. But, image how much damage police cars do? Not to mention public works vehicles that spend hours sitting on a job site. "The idling creates a lot of greenhouse gasses. So one of the things we're going to be doing iwth the project is we're going to be finding out a certain amount of data like how much co2 is going to be saved, how much ozone, that type of thing," says Carol Zimberlin. She's an environmental analyst at Larsen Engineers.

Larsen Engineers is a local consulting firm that is helping out some towns in Wayne County . Just this week, NYSERDA agreed to invest $17,000 in the project.

Lyons will be getting some anti-idling devices to test out on two police cars. "Essentially it's a live battery which is charged when you drive the car from the alternator. When you stop the car it can provide hours of power to the radio equipment, heater, equipment inside so you don't have to have your engine on," says Ram Shrivastava, President and CEO of Larsen Engineers.

Estimates are that police cars spend up to 8 hours a day just idling. The device is expected to save about $648 a month in gas for just one car.

The consultants hope once this project is complete the idea will catch on to many other governments in the area. "This is a great opportunity to, in Wayne county, have it done and monitor it and share it with the DPW and other counties can come talk to them and hopefully that will be a seed for a lot more action," Shrivastava adds.

The devices are made by a Texas company. The hope is to have them installed and in use this summer.

The town of Williamson is also taking part in this project. A public works truck that idles 3-4 hours a day will also get the device.