2024 Air Central Texas Awards

Do you know someone whose work has had a positive effect on air quality in Central Texas? Nominate them for an Air Central Texas Award! 

The Air Central Texas Awards honor those organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to regional air quality in Central Texas. Whether it is promoting electric vehicles, planting trees, creating an environmental education program, or providing air quality media coverage, we want to recognize those who help protect the air we breathe.

We want to recognize all types of contributors, from those who have made significant contributions throughout their careers to students who may not have started their careers. Look at the award categories to see where your nominee best fits. Nominations can be submitted by clicking on the category. Self-nominations are encouraged.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, October 18, 2024.

This year's award categories include:

• Air Central Texas Outstanding Organization Award - recognizes an activity by an organization that helped reduce local air pollution over the past year.
• Air Central Texas Media Award - recognizes exceptional media coverage of air quality or air quality issues within the past year. 
• Air Central Texas Environmental Education Award - recognizes an individual or organization that has exhibited exceptional leadership in air quality education over the past year.
• Air Aware Student Leadership Award - recognizes a student who has had a significant and lasting impact on Central Texas air quality in their community. 
• Bill Gill Central Texas Air Quality Leadership Award - recognizes an individual who has had a significant and lasting impact on Central Texas air quality.

ACT Resources

Air Central Texas provides several resources to keep you "Air Aware" on how to improve air quality in our region.

Our Complaints Dashboard provides complaint data from TCEQ for each Austin MSA county and complaint type. You can also make an air quality complaint with TCEQ if you smell something unpleasant, see constant smoke, or have evidence about an environmental problem.

Example of Complaints Data

We've also created a Permit Map displaying facilities in the region who have open and closed TCEQ air quality permit action requests. This map helps residents and stakeholders participate in the permitting process for these types of applications. You can find the eComments link to submit a comment, request a public meeting, or request a contested case hearing online.

ACT Permit Map

You can also sign up for AQI Alerts that update you on days forecast to have high ozone or fine particulate matter levels that could be considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. If you want to share this information on social media or your website, you can find AQI graphics in our ACT Toolkit.

Air Quality News

'Letter to Air' by Mayor of Austin, Kirk Watson - Hear from the Mayor of Austin, Kirk Watson, ahead of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on 7 September. (C40 Cities)

New Survey Tracks Central Texans' Commuting, Telework Habits - A new survey released last week is giving further insight into Central Texans’ commuter habits and appetites for remote work opportunities. (KXAN)

Feeling Itchy? Air Pollution Might Be Making it Worse -  Eczema – a chronic condition that causes itchy, dry, painful skin – affects around 2.6 percent of people worldwide and ten percent of people in the United States. While not contagious, it can be triggered by chemical irritants, like in soap or detergent, allergens like dust or pollen, or even stress. Now, thanks to Maria Wei and Raj Fadadu, medical researchers can add wildfire smoke to the list. (NPR)

What We're Learning from Lung Cancer Patients Who Never Smoked - Worsening air pollution globally is causing lung cancer rates to rise everywhere. A look at Taiwan, where a majority of new cases affects non-smokers, offers powerful lessons for the rest of the world. (National Geographic)

2024 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA Monthly Air Quality Index Levels

Visit the Air Central Texas website for a more detailed breakdown of air quality conditions by pollutant and location.

Air quality trends in August 2024 were improved compared to those of August 2023, when the region experienced four good days, 16 moderate days, ten unhealthy for sensitive groups days, and one unhealthy day.

Access the Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast using most weather apps or visit AirNow.gov for localized information.

Learn how these pollutants can affect public health:

• Particulate Matter
• Ozone

Share the Air Central Texas newsletter with your friends, family, and coworkers to help people understand the risk of poor air quality and how their actions can affect our breathable air.  

Make an air quality commitment to improve our local air quality, today!