Be an ACTion Hero on Earth Day 2024
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Be an ACTion Hero on Earth Day 2024
April 22 is Earth Day, an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
You can take ACTion and be an Earth Day Hero this year by helping to improve our region's air quality. Making these simple changes to your driving habits can reduce your vehicle's emissions and cut down on ozone and PM2.5 pollution levels, which are bad for the environment and your health:
- Avoid High-Emissions Driving Practices. Obey the speed limit, accelerate and brake gently and gradually, and drive slower on unpaved roads to avoid creating excess dust.
- Limit Vehicle Idling. Running your engine when you're not driving reduces your vehicle's fuel economy, costs you money, and creates pollution.
- Maintain Your Vehicle. Keep your tires properly inflated, change your oil regularly, and have your engine tuned regularly.
- Buy Cleaner Gasoline. During peak ozone season, you can help reduce your vehicle's emissions by purchasing higher grades of gasoline (medium or premium).
- Buy and Use Cleaner Vehicles. When you're purchasing, renting, or using a vehicle, consider using the cleanest vehicle available.
Feeling even more heroic? Improve our air quality by making a pledge to "Commit to ACT"
Answer the hero's call. Sign up for Ozone Action Day alerts to stay informed about air quality in the region and to know when to spring into ACTion.
Air Quality & Your Health with Dr. Neha Reshamwala
Last year, CAPCOG interviewed board-certified allergy, asthma, and immunology specialist Dr. Neha Reshamwala to discuss air quality and health. Dr. Reshamwala has been practicing medicine as an allergist and immunologist in Austin since 2012, treating patients at Frontier Allergy Asthma & Immunology. She is a national speaker on allergy and immunology topics, and she conducts medical research and clinical trials for new drugs and methodologies for treating different allergy and immunology related conditions.
Dr. Reshamwala provided health tips regarding air quality for Central Texans, including:
- Tip 1: Monitor the pollen forecast.
- Tip 2: Be aware of hot temperature days.
- Tip 3: Stay indoors on high AQI/pollen days.
- Tip 4: Wear a mask when going outside.
- Tip 5: Keep windows and doors closed on high AQI days.
- Tip 6: Use an air purifier in your home.
- Tip 7: Change clothes and shower after being outside.
- Tip 8: Exercise in early mornings/indoors.
- Tip 9: Control allergens within your home.
- Tip 10: Change your air filters regularly.
- Tip 11: Stop smoking inside your home.
- Tip 12: Use an exhaust fan when cooking.
- Tip 13: Fill your gas in the early morning/late evening.
- Tip 14: Reduce drive time during peak hours.
You can watch the full interview on CAPCOG's YouTube channel.
Air Quality News
How the Transition to Electric Vehicles Benefits Children's Health - The American Lung Association has released "Boosting Health for Children: Benefits of Zero-Emission Transportation and Electricity," a new report detailing the significant health benefits a transition to zero-emission vehicles would have on kids' health. (American Lung Association)
UT Study Highlights Asthma Disparities in Austin Neighborhoods - The study from Dell Medical School and UT College of Natural Science researchers shows the connection between asthma-related emergency room trips and air pollution in certain Austin neighborhoods - specifically areas with higher populations of Black and Latinx people, according to a UT release. (KXAN)
New EPA Vehicle Standards Would Cut US Emissions, Ramp up Pressure for More EVs - Officials explained that these new standards will reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 7.2 billion metric tons through 2055. That's about four times the total emissions of the transportation sector as of 2021. (ABC News)
New EDF Report Details How Texas' Clean Air Program Can More Effectively Speed the Transition to ZEV Trucks - Recommendations include how to improve program design of the grants offered, including how to modernize the calculation of nitrogen oxides reductions to ensure the full benefit of switching from diesel to zero-emission vehicles is captured, and how to improve the administrative management of the program so it is easier for companies to secure funds to deploy zero-emission vehicles in Texas. (Environmental Defense Fund)
Texas Counties, EPA Respond to Attorney General's Lawsuit on New Federal Climate Policy - Officials from the EPA and Texas counties are weighing in after a lawsuit was filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in efforts to block the EPA's new federal air quality standards. The new federal climate policy aims to lower the amount of fine particulate pollution emitted by power plants, vehicles and industrial facilities by a 2032 deadline. (Community Impact)
2024 Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown MSA Monthly Air Quality Index Levels
In March 2024, we experienced 16 good days, and 15 moderate days. One moderate day was due to ozone and 14 days were due to PM2.5. Air quality trends in March 2024 were slightly improved to those of March 2023, which had 16 good days, 14 moderate days, and one unhealthy for sensitive groups day.
Access the Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast by using any weather app or by going to AirNow.gov for localized information.
To learn how these pollutants can affect public health, click the following links:
View the current Air Quality Index (AQI) and learn more at AirNow.gov.
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!
