Raise your AIR QUALITY awareness

We love summer.  But the abundant sunshine and heat present the ideal conditions for ground-level ozone formation.  Ground-level ozone is harmful to health, disproportionately affecting those with respiratory conditions, and could bring the metro area in non-attainment with national health standards.  Fortunately, there are things we all can do to mitigate emissions that lead to ozone.  Try incorporating some or all of the below measures into your routine during the summer:

1. Drive Less.  Take alternative modes of transportation (bike, walk, transit, carpool) whenever possible
2. Play it cool.  Delay refueling your vehicle until dusk or nighttime.  
3. Stop at the click.  Don't top off your tank when pumping gas.  This harms your vehicle's vapor recovery system and releases ozone-forming fumes
4. Turn it off.  Turn your car off when idling for 30 seconds or more.  Idling for 30 seconds uses as much fuel as shutting off and starting your engine.
5. Keep a lid on it.  Use paints, solvents, and cleaners carefully - leaving them uncapped for long releases ozone-forming fumes
   
6. Start in your backyard.  Don't run your lawn mower or other gas-powered lawn equipment during the hottest part of the day

    

   1. 1. Learn more about ozone at Little Steps, Big Impact
      2. Plan a bus trip at Metro Transit
      3. Learn which streets are safest for biking with the Omaha Metro Bicycle Commuter Map, courtesy of Activate Omaha
      4. Find and schedule a carpool at Metro Rideshare

   Here are some resources to learn more about little steps you can take to make a big impact on improving our air quality:

   Learn more about what you can do to keep our air clean today and every day at home, at work, and at play.  And Follow us on Twitter!