Category Archives: Air Quality

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?

perfumebottle2

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:

  • Cosmeticsspraycan
  • 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

skyWith 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.

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

Mayors Clean Air Event

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?

Staying Healthy When the Air Turns Red

Salt Lake Valley

One of the most widely recommended actions to protect your health when the air quality takes a turn for the worse is to limit your outdoor activities.

Sensitive groups (children, seniors and people with heart and lung conditions) are recommended to reduce their outdoor activities when PM2.5 pollution levels reach 35.5 µg/m3. This winter those days have been frequent. Everyone receives the same recommendation when PM2.5 reaches 55.5 µg/m3. View current conditions.

The truth is that it is up to you when to decide to limit and avoid outdoor activities. But knowledge is very important, and we want to make sure you have the right tools to make this decision.

One of the latest blog posts on the U.S. EPA’s Greenversations blog pays special attention to the health effects of particulate matter (PM) pollution. In honor of Heart Health Month, EPA’s toxicologists are shining a light on the sound scientific proof that PM can impact heart health, particularly for those with existing cardiovascular disease (these people fall into the “sensitive groups” category).

Here is an excerpt:

“As EPA scientists, we make sure the most recent and scientifically sound research is used to protect the public’s health from the harmful effects of air pollution. Over the last 20 years, thousands of scientific studies have reported that breathing in fine PM can lead to harmful effects on the heart, blood, and blood vessels. These studies show that exposure to PM can cause premature death, strokes, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest for people who are already at risk.” Read more.

So, how can residents stay active when the air quality goes south? One solution is to escape the valley for the clean air (and often warmer temperatures and sunny skies) of the mountains. Another is to be active indoors.

sportsComplex

Salt Lake City Sports Complex (courtesy of Salt Lake County Parks & Recreation)

In a recent decision, the Salt Lake County Council is making it easier for residents to maintain their healthy exercise routine when the air quality turns poor by offering reduced rec center fees on bad pollution days.

Effective immediately, on days deemed “unhealthy” by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, rec center fees at the nearly 20 facilities across the county will be discounted from $4.50 to $2.25. Find the rec center nearest you.

One last plea: consider taking public transportation or carpooling when you head to your nearest center to get some exercise!

Hot Issue: Air Quality

airquality

Air quality is a hot topic for residents living in Salt Lake City and along the Wasatch Front. It’s no surprise, really. With more than 22 RED air quality days on the calendar so far this year, it’s easy to count the days our air quality has been GREEN on your fingers.

Learn more about winter inversions – what they are and what we can all do.

Salt Lake City is committed to improving our air quality, and is aggressively working to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality through programs that conserve electricity and natural gas, encourage individuals to drive down their personal motor vehicle miles and reduce other sources of air pollution.

Learn more about what Salt Lake City is doing to help improve air quality.

One of the largest contributors to our air pollution is motor vehicle emissions. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. The opportunity is for residents to take simple but important actions to reduce their vehicle trips and miles. The challenge is speaks for itself.

Learn more about driving less and other green transportation options.

In addition to implementing an Idle Free Ordinance, Salt Lake City is working on new strategies that will result in real, measurable improvements in the air quality. Stay tuned for more developments.

Good Air Quality

View current air quality conditions in Salt Lake City.