Fresh Air News
Spring 2023
What is the Clean Air Force of Central Texas?
We work to keep Central Texas’ Air Healthy
Did you know that Austin is the ONLY large city in America that has always met the EPA’s National Air Quality Standards and never fallen out of attainment? The region is not just lucky. The Clean Air Force of Central Texas works hard to keep air pollution under control and air clean!
Founded in 1993, the CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to working with industry, government, and organizations to safeguard and improve air quality in Central Texas. We are a collaborative resource advocating for clean air in Central Texas, from San Antonio to Waco. We look to inform, educate, and promote proactive air pollution-reducing activities in Central Texas.
May is National Bike Month (and Bike Safety Month, too!)
Most of us remember learning how to ride a bike. First, the training wheels, then the big day came when we saddled up, and Mom or Dad ran beside us, holding the bike. Then, they released the bike, and we experienced the first breeze of pure freedom.
But often, as we grow up, we grow away from bikes. They gather dust in the garage, and the tires go flat.
Pull out that bike, pump it up, and experience joy again. Or, buy a new electric bike and feel the wind in your face without all that effort.
May is National Bike Month and National Bike Safety Month, too. Here are three great reasons to get back on that bike and ride:
- You do good for the environment. Running an errand on a bike means no polluting fumes from the car or SUV. It helps maintain air quality. Consider biking to work or combining biking and public transportation to commute.
- You save money. Biking uses no fuel, and you don’t have to worry about paying for a parking spot.
- You will feel better. Biking is great exercise that, unlike jogging or walking, is easy on the joints.
But with the joy of riding, don’t forget about safety. Wear a helmet and bright clothing. Use bike paths when you can, and be aware that drivers may not see you when you are on streets or crossing intersections.
Dust off that bike and give it a spin. As the late President John F. Kennedy said, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike!”
Thank you, City of Austin!
Austin Proclaims May 1-5 as Air Quality Awareness Week
Mayor Pro Tem Ellis led a Council Proclamation naming May 1-5, 2023, Air Quality Awareness Week in Austin! We’re grateful to our partners across Central Texas for their continued support in protecting Austin’s clear blue skies.
Pictured from left to right: Anton Cox (Capitol Area Council of Governments), Austin Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis (City of Austin Government), Clean Air Force Board Chair Melissa Reynolds (CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas), and Luke Metzger (Environment Texas). Each person pictured is a member of our Board of Directors.
Clean Air Force Honored by TCEQ
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has named the Clean Air Force of Central Texas a finalist for the 2023 Environmental Excellence Award in the Education category. The Clean Air Force was recognized for its “Be Air Smart” School Sensor Program, which places air monitors in schools and YMCAs across the region. The Clean Air Force spearheads the effort, but it is a joint effort with Air Central Texas, a part of the Capital Area Council of Governments, and Austin FC. The project was honored at a banquet held in Austin on May 17.
Pictured r. to l. are Bill Gibbs, Executive Director; Brett Davis, Technical Consultant; Melissa Reynolds, Board Chair; and Trennis Jones, Vice President for Community Impact with Austin FC.
Serious about Sustainability — Partner Profile: Travis County
Here’s a fact that anyone in the Austin Area knows well: The region is growing rapidly. Travis County, the home of Austin, now has 1.4 million residents — the fifth largest County in Texas. In just 20 years, it has more than doubled in size. This rapid, unrelenting growth creates environmental issues related to air quality. We sat down with Adele Noel, Environmental Project Manager with Travis County, and a member of our Board of Directors to discuss what the County is doing to combat rising levels of pollution coming from all that growth.
Adele, tell us about what Travis County is doing concerning air quality and sustainability.
“The biggest contributor to poor air quality is people using single-occupied vehicles. We have 977,000 vehicles registered to Travis County citizens, and I think everyone single one of them is on 1-35, with a single person in each car! We encourage our employees to ditch their cars. We offer free transit passes, teleworking options, and a compressed work schedule for our employees. To increase participation, we provide a Commuter Leave Incentive Program. These reward employees with extra time off from work for using public transit, teleworking, and compressing their work week Employees can earn up to 10 hours of extra leave every six months for using a commute solution. We also have the Guaranteed Free Ride Home program, which provides a free taxi ride from work if employees come by public transportation, but an emergency requires them to get home quickly. This offers employees peace of mind that they can use a commute solution and still be available to their families when needed.”
You have been employed with the County for 16 years and have worked on various sustainability initiatives. What is one of your current projects?
“We are increasingly concerned about particulate matter (PM2.5). These microfine polluting particles, just 2.5 microns or less, are 30 times smaller than human hair. They can enter our bloodstream via our lungs and damage our bodies. Our County meets current EPA air quality standards. Still, with many more vehicles on the road and so much construction of homes, offices, apartments, and roads, our PM2.5 is increasing to unhealthy levels.
“We are in the early stages of what we are calling the ‘Concrete Batch Plant Wind Modeling Project.’ This project, a collaborative effort with the County, the Clean Air Force of Central Texas, and the Thriving Earth Exchange, aims to find prevailing wind patterns around operations where cement is produced to determine the best placement of particulate matter sensors. The wind modeling will help the Travis County Office of Resilience and the Clean Air Force of Central Texas know where to put monitors and how many will be needed. The data collected from the particulate matter sensors will help the community better understand the pollution level these plants produce and the associated health risks to nearby neighborhoods” (For more on PM2.5, see the article called “What you don’t see can still hurt you.”)
What are some of the other projects the County is working on?
“Travis County is moving away from fossil-fuel vehicles to electric vehicles. So far, we have one Ford Lightening pickup and are expecting the delivery of 12 more by this fall, as well as an electric truck made by Chevrolet. We are working on installing charging stations to keep these vehicles powered up, as well as charging stations for the public.”
Welcome to Our New Clean Air Partners
We are growing! We welcome six new Clean Air Partners: The Air & Waste Management Association-Central Texas Chapter, Alen Corporation, CapMetro, Joe W. Fly Company, Restoration of Austin, and Villarreal & Begum, Law Guns. Clean Air Partners are employers committed to reducing emissions and promoting Clean Air efforts in our region.
The Air & Waste Management Association-Central Texas Chapter is a nonprofit professional organization that promotes global environmental responsibility by enhancing the knowledge and expertise of its members.
The Austin-based Alen Corporation designs and manufactures award-winning indoor air purification equipment. Their vision is “To inspire a healthier life and provide peace of mind for everyone through clean and safe air.”
CapMetro connects people, jobs, and communities by providing quality transportation choices to Central Texas. Its goal is to be Net Zero Carbon by 2040 and significantly reduce polluting emissions.
The Joe W. Fly Company provides filtration solutions for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings and facilities in Texas, Arizona, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Their team of certified air filtration specialists finds solutions to achieve energy efficiency and air quality.
Restoration 1 specializes in restoring residential and commercial property impacted by water, smoke, fire, floods, and mold. (Honorary Partner)
Villarreal & Begum, Law Guns, is a personal injury law firm with offices in Austin, San Antonio, McAllen, and Laredo. (Honorary Partner)
Together We Are Making a Difference!
Central Texas has excellent air quality. But it is not because we are lucky. Our air quality is high because of a commitment on the part of our residents to preserve our natural environment, including the air we breathe. Here are five great ways you can make a difference:
- Reduce your overall energy use. Less energy used means power plants produce fewer emissions.
- Drive less. Bike or walk more. You’ll reduce emissions from burning fuel and get healthier, too!
- Don’t idle. A study done at a local school found that pollution skyrocketed around the school every day from 4 to 5 pm as parents sat in idling cars.
- Watch for Ozone Action Day alerts. Sign up here (it’s free!)
- Reduce one-person commutes. Take the bus, carpool, or e-bike to work.
What You Don’t See Can Still Hurt You
While Ozone can occur during our hot summer weather, when conditions are favorable for its formation, our year-round air pollution is Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5). PM2.5 are particles that are less than 2.5 micrometers. That is tiny — some 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These ultrafine particles are so tiny they can go through the lungs into our body, and accumulated PM can lead to many issues, particularly for the 40% of our population who are sensitive to PM: The elderly, the very young, or those who already have respiratory problems, such as asthma or COPD.
Most of the time, our PM2.5 levels stay low. But watch for alerts; when they come, plan to avoid heavy work or activity outside and consider a HEPA air purifier inside your home. The EPA has a great website about PM2.5 basics. Check it out here.
P.O. Box 29295
Austin, TX 78755
CONNECT WITH US
