Category Archives: Air Quality

Turn your key, be idle free

With fall upon us, and cooler weather in the forecast for Salt Lake City, it is the perfect time to recommit to making one small change that will have a positive impact on our air quality (and your pocketbook!) this season. Say it with us…

Turn your key, be idle free!

For over six years, Salt Lake City and its partners have promoted the voluntary Idle Free Utah campaign in schools across the valley and in every corner of the state. The campaign reminds parents to eliminate vehicle idling in school pick up zones to prevent the unhealthy buildup of air pollution in an area heavily trafficked by children.

Continue reading →

Summer Smog

Summer is a beautiful time in Salt Lake City. The flowers are blooming, the trees are green and the mountains offer unparalleled activities for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike. We are all so happy to say goodbye to the inversions that gunk up our winter air.

But don’t let the blue skies fool you — our valley faces air pollution challenges in the summer months, too. Ozone pollution, a different kind of pollution than our wintertime particulates (PM2.5), forms through a chemical reaction when heat and sun combine with emissions. It can aggravate asthma and impact heart and lung health.

Learn about ozone pollution and its health impacts.

State health officials recommend that on days that face poor air quality, residents exercise outdoors during the morning and evening hours. Ozone pollution often peaks sometime between noon and 6 p.m.

View current air quality conditions in Salt Lake City.

You can limit your impact on air quality by driving less. Ride UTA, walk, bike, skip a trip or even carpool. Track the trips and miles you save by using alternatives to driving alone this July through the Clear the Air Challenge and you just might win a prize for your efforts!

[VIDEOS] Get inspired by Salt Lake City residents making a positive impact on air quality.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uKEyGbu9C8&w=560&h=315]

Stop your engines, it’s time to Clear the Air!

Rally your team and get ready to leave your car at home — it’s almost time for the 2013 Clear the Air Challenge! The fifth annual Challenge kicks off on July 1^st and runs through July 31^st. Teams and companies will compete for bragging rights and great prizes, but with clearer air we all win.

During the month of July, thousands of Utahns will track the trips and miles they save by choosing alternative forms of transportation. From walking, biking and taking public transit, to teleworking, carpooling and trip chaining, our collective impact will be tracked in real-time.

Community benefits include a strengthened local economy, improved air quality, enhanced health, reduced energy consumption and improved mobility. Since the Challenge began in 2009, over 11,000 Utahns have saved over 5.2 million miles!

Why should you participate?

We’ll let some past Challenge winners make the case:

“During the 2010 Clear the Air Challenge I made some important life changes that translated into winning this year. I have been riding my bike year-round for a physical life change, as well as a personal commitment to help alleviate some of the pollution which contributes to my son’s asthma problems. Thank you for this life-changing Challenge!”

– Chad Turner, 2011 Grand Prize Winner for Most Trips Saved

“The Clear the Air Challenge makes you a lot more aware of how often you go places, and makes you even more aware of how often you are in a vehicle. During the Challenge I tried to increase the amounts of walking that I did in even more of an effort to reduce emissions. It’s amazing how much a person can miss by just driving to a place rather than walking.”

– Danielle Frohn, 2011 Grand Prize Winner for Most Consistent Gold

“The Clear the Air Challenge is a yearly reminder that my actions do count, and that I can make a difference. It reminds me that even the simplest decisions can have a lasting impact.”

– Ashley Giessing, 2011 Grand Prize Winner for Most Consistent Bronze

Seize the Moment

What are you waiting for? Head over to ClearTheAirChallenge.org to register!

Now is the perfect time to act on those good intentions and see the impact you can have on improved air quality.

And be sure to recruit your coworkers, friends and family because we need everyone to get excited to “Drive Less, Drive Smarter” and do their part! Stop by the Team Start-Up Kit for tools to help you rally.

UCAIR Tackles Clean Air in Utah

Today Salt Lake City Green joined with many of its community partners to attend the 2013 kick-off event for the Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR). The UCAIR initiative was first launched by Governor Herbert during the winter of 2012 in an effort to tackle Utah’s poor air quality days.

UCAIR is a statewide clean air partnership created to make it easier for individuals, businesses and communities to make small changes to improve Utah’s air. One of the program’s main messages is that every small change adds to a collective bigger step toward better health, a better economy and better overall quality of life for all of us.

Today a refreshed and revised UCAIR was unveiled, including:

A new and improved website that offers an Air Quality 101, simple ideas for what you can do to reduce your impact at home, at work and in your community, and tools to help you along the way.
A very promising Grants & Loans program designed to encourage businesses, government and non profit organizations to invest in emissions reducing and energy efficiency technology.
New leadership for the non profit UCAIR organization, including a Board of Directors and Executive Director Shawni McCallister.
A roster of partner organizations, including the perennial SLCgreen favorite Clear the Air Challenge, which will be launching this July.

Learn more about what UCAIR does, and why they do it.

Green Your Clean!

In Utah, we hear a lot about outdoor air quality. But indoor air quality is just as important, perhaps more so as we spend more time indoors.

One of the lesser known contributors to indoor air pollution are household cleaners and air fresheners. Chemicals and artificial fragrances contain VOCs which, among other things, can aggravate asthma and other respiratory problems.

Luckily, there are some excellent alternatives that are safe, cost less and clean just as effectively.

Use Alternative Cleaning Supplies

Most cleaning chores can be accomplished with non-toxic alternative cleaners and a little elbow grease. Here are a few natural cleaning alternatives:

Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) – Cleans and deodorizes. Softens water to increase sudsing and cleaning power of soap. Good scouring powder. Can be used with white vinegar or lemon juice to clean even more effectively.

Borax (Sodium Borate) – Cleans and deodorizes. Excellent disinfectant. Softens water. Available in the laundry section of the grocery store.

Castile Soap (Vegetable oil-based soap) – Biodegrades safely and is completely non-toxic. Bars can be grated to dissolve more easily in hot water. Choose soap without synthetic additives.

Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate) – Cuts grease and removes stains. Disinfects. Softens water. Available in the laundry section of the grocery store.

White Vinegar or Lemon Juice – Cuts grease and freshens. Can be used in combination with baking soda to clean even more effectively.

Use Alternative Cleaning Methods

The Salt Lake County Health Department recommends these alternatives to common cleaning methods:

Air Freshener – Find the source of the odor and eliminate it. Open windows to ventilate. To scent air, use herbal bouquets, pour vanilla on a cotton ball, or simmer cinnamon and cloves.

Brass Polish – Make a paste of equal parts vinegar, salt and flour. Rub well. Rinse completely to prevent corrosion.

Drain Cleaner – Try a plunger first. Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, then ½ cup vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and then follow with two quarts boiling water. Repeat if needed. If this fails, rent or buy a drain snake.

Furniture Polish – Use olive or almond oil.

Garbage Disposal Deodorizer – Use lemon or baking soda.

Mothballs for Clothes – Thoroughly clean any used clothing or furniture before introducing it into your home. Wash woolens before storing and store in tight containers. Thoroughly vacuum rugs and under furniture. Shake out woolens periodically and use cedar chips and lavender flowers instead of mothballs.

Oven Cleaner – As a preventative measure, cover the oven bottom with a sheet of aluminum foil. Clean up spills promptly. To clean, use baking soda, soap, and water with a copper scrubber and elbow grease. Scouring Powder – Try baking soda.

Silver Cleaner – For large objects, rub gently with baking soda and a damp sponge. Toothpaste also works well. Place smaller objects in a pot of boiling water with a loose, small piece of aluminum foil; add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt. Boil 2-3 minutes then cool and dry.

Window Cleaner – Use ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart warm water. Polish with newspaper.

Do you have your own green cleaning favorite? Share it here!

Did you know that leafy greens can help purify your indoor air quality?

Leafy Greens That Clean the Air

In Utah, we hear a lot about outdoor air quality. But indoor air quality is just as important, perhaps more so as we spend more time indoors.

Chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene and other solvents can be found in most homes today. Products like household cleaners, paints and new furniture can “off gas” these compounds into your air. Tips to clean your house without chemicals.

Aloe – Clears formaldehyde and benzene found in cleaners, paints, and new furniture.

Spider plant – Clears up formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide and solvents.

Gerber daisy – Pretty and powerful at removing a common dry cleaning chemical.

Snake plant – Packs a punch for formaldehyde, a chemical commonly found in homes today.

Golden pothos – Another formaldehyde cleaner, this plant doesn’t require a lot of light to thrive.

Azalea – A bright pop of color, this shrub cleans up formaldehyde.

Bamboo palm – Love the shade and combats benzene and formaldehyde.

Heart leaf philodendron – Excellent for removing a variety of VOCs. Be careful with this one, it is poisonous if ingested.

Peace lily – Removes all three of the most common household VOCs – formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene.

DEQ Launches Air Quality Video Contest

Our friends at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality recently launched a video contest. They are looking for creative, 30 second public service announcements that can be used to educate Utahns about ozone and give them ideas to help improve our summer air quality.

Watch the introductory video to learn more about the contest:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L27dtwQuFw?rel=0]

Prizes are at stake! First place will receive $500, with additional cash prizes for second and third place winners. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28th, so you have just a few weeks to get your award-winning video together!

Remember, this contest is specific to summer air quality, which comes in the form of ozone pollution. Learn more about the contest on the DEQ website.

What’s the Deal with VOCs?

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing a new rule that would lower the volatile organic compound (VOC) content in dozens of common household products.

One of these products – hairspray – has been getting a lot of media attention over the past few weeks. But in the dozens of stories about the proposed rule, which was created to help reduce air pollution and improve air quality, we have noticed the absence of health information.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists the following health effects tied to VOCs:

Eye, nose and throat irritation
Headaches
Loss of coordination
Nausea
Damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system
Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans

At present, not much is known about the short-term and long-term health effects of household VOC exposure. Breathing in low levels of VOCs may increase some people’s risk of health problems. Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. Common household culprits that release VOCs when used include:

Cosmetics
Personal care products
Disinfectants
Laundry detergents
Air fresheners
Fabric softeners
Dryer sheets
Dish detergents
All-purpose cleaners
Soaps
Hand sanitizers
Lotions
Deodorants
Shampoos
Hair spray

DEQ’s proposed rule would limit the VOC content of these products – not prohibit them. Most manufacturers already offer lower VOC versions of their products to comply with similar rules in 16 other states and the District of Columbia. Learn more from DEQ.

Our two cents: If lower VOC products will reduce both indoor and outdoor air pollution – the health effects of which are not fully known – what is the downside?

SLC’s Commitment to Clearing the Air

With so much talk about Salt Lake City’s poor air quality, it might feel like everyone else is telling you what to do—drive less, walk more, don’t idle, stay inside, think green. While individual actions play a crucial role in reducing the pollutants that get trapped in our valleys, you’re not the only one who can and should make a difference.

At SLCGreen, we recognize that only through collective action at every level and in every sector can we see real change.

Here are just some of the things the City of Salt Lake has been doing to reduce its own emissions in an effort to clear the air:

LEED Silver Standards for all new city buildings and major renovations. Meeting these minimum standards reduces the impacts of construction, sources more sustainable materials, and improves water and energy consumption throughout the life of the building. The latest example is the new Public Safety building on 500 South, which will generate as much electricity as it consumes, making it the first public safety building of its kind in the nation.

City and County Building Efficiency Upgrades. Recognizing that much of our electricity comes from burning coal, we’ve been working over the last decade to reduce the electricity consumed by our existing buildings. The City-County building downtown, home to the Mayor’s office, has reduced its electricity consumption by 840,000 kilowatt hours per year thanks to upgraded lighting and building systems. This is a reduction equivalent to the electricity consumed by 89 homes in one year.

Solar installation on the top of The Leonardo, with a view of the Salt Lake City-County Building.

Fuel Efficient City Vehicles. The city has a lot of vehicles out on the streets that contribute green house gas emissions along with everyone else. To curb our carbon, we’ve introduced 16 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to replace diesel sanitation trucks, added 5 hybrids and 2 rechargeable electric cars to the Police Department fleet, and changed over 25% of the Airport’s vehicles to CNG.

Thanks to the Sustainable SLC Plan 2015, this is just the beginning. Read more about doing your part.

Mayors Take to the Hill for Clean Air

Yesterday, SLCGreen took a trip to the Utah State Capitol for a media event hosted by Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, Ogden City Mayor Mike Caldwell and the Salt Lake Chamber’s Ryan Evans. The purpose of the event was to voice their support for state and local actions to help improve air quality, and to present a list of recommendations that would result in less air pollution.

Among the actions recommended:

Initiate a call to action by individuals to lessen single occupant vehicle driving and cold starts (a large contributor to poor air quality).
Implement a UTA transit pass sponsorship program.
Share local/state level strategies for others to consider:
- Education everyone on the fact that most emissions come from “cold starts.”
- Provide discounted or free transit passes to employees.
- Have a robust carpooling program, creating preferential parking for carpools.
- Encourage employees to telework.
- Pass parking user costs on to employees.
- Establish no-idling ordinances and educational campaigns.
- Allow for flexible schedules to avoid rush hour traffic.
Propose a series of legislative/regulatory actions to improve funding for transit and local transportation funding, reducing vehicle use and removing state barriers to more aggressive action:
- Provide additional transit funding by implementing an increase in the local-option sales tax; or by increasing the gas tax.
- Repeal state law prohibiting Utah from setting air quality standards that are higher than federal regulations.
- Extend tax credits for clean fuel and electric vehicles.
- Change state vehicle registration fee schedule to be based on vehicle emissions.
- Adopt additional driving restrictions during bad air days.
Support regulatory actions due to the new PM2.5 standard:
- New point and area source regulations.
- Trip reduction mandates for companies with over 100 employees.

What are you thoughts on the recommendations listed above? What would you like to see from the Utah State Legislature this session?