Fresh Air News Summer 2022 | Clean Air Force

Fresh Air News

Summer 2022

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.

Clean Air Force Welcomes Six New Partners

Austin FC and five additional new Clean Air Partners have joined the Clean Air Force since June. We welcome companies and organizations committed to safeguarding and improving air quality in Central Texas. In addition to Austin FC, AECOM, Atlas Technology Group, Austin FC, H-E-B, Huston-Tillotson University, and TSI Incorporated are all new Clean Air Partners.

Introducing our new Clean Air Partners:

AECOM. AECOM is an infrastructure consulting firm partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for generations to come. It is one of the premier air quality consulting organizations in the United States

Austin FC. Austin FC joined Major League Soccer (MLS) as the League’s 27th club in 2019 and played its first match at home in June 2021in the new state-of-the-art and Gold LEED-Certified Q2 Stadium in Austin.

Atlas Technology Group. Atlas maintains an extensive computing network and digital infrastructure in multiple countries and regions across North America, North Europe, and Central Asia.

H-E-B. H-E-B Grocery Company operates more than 340 stores in Texas and Mexico. H-E-B is known for its community involvement and commitment to sustainability. It joins us as an honorary partner in recognition of its significant gift to the Clean Air Force.

TSI Incorporated. TSI Incorporated provides trusted air quality measurement, application guidance, and data analytics solutions that enable its customers to make informed decisions.

Huston-Tillotson University. Huston-Tillotson University is Austin’s oldest institution of higher learning (founded in 1875). The University is well known for its focus on sustainability and offers a degree in Environmental Studies

Air Quality: A Central Texas Success Story!

We know Central Texas is a great place to live, but it is also a great place to BREATHE! We have some of the best air quality in Texas and the stats to prove it.

According to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) air quality scientist Doug Boyer, Central Texas consistently trends better than the statewide average in almost every kind of air pollutant measured by the state and federal governments.

Our July Air Quality Professionals Forum meeting featured Boyer, a senior air quality project manager with TCEQ who oversees statewide efforts to research air quality. His presentation showed several charts that graph Ozone and other air pollutants. These charts illustrate that Central Texas is typically trending well below statewide averages for air pollution. Take Ozone, for example. While there has been an improving trend everywhere in Texas over the last 20+ years, it took the state 21 years to go from 112 ppb (parts per billion) to 77 ppb. Austin-Round Rock achieved 77 ppb in 2008 and currently, at the end of 2021, Comes in at 63 ppm, well below the EPA attainment level of 70 ppm. Other pollutants also are typically lower in our region than in the rest of the state.

In addition to presenting an air quality state status report, Boyer also looked at current TCEQ Air Research projects across the state. One that impacts Houston, our neighbor to the southeast, is called the “TRACER-AQ” project. It looks at the impact of ships and oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and how winds blowing in from the Gulf impact Houston’s air quality. That project uses every technology tool available to researchers: Mobile labs, Commercial service boats, airplanes, a pontoon boat — and even a drone.

View his slide presentation (downloadable PDF), along with other Air Quality Professionals Forum presentations.

Do You Know What To Do On Ozone Action Days?

Do you know what to do when an Ozone Action Day is announced?

Start by making sure you are aware of them. Sign up for our free Ozone Alert emails, and be prepared to take action!

To sign up for Ozone Action Day alerts, visit our home page and click the bright blue “Sign UP for Ozone Action Alerts” button

After signing up, visit our “Texas Top Ten” page and get pointers on 10 simple things you can do when an Ozone Action Day is announced. These are not complex tasks, but we can collectively make a difference if we all do them. Ozone Action Days allow us to take significant, meaningful actions that make a difference!

Can Solar Power Save The World?

Can solar power save the world? Alone, no. But solar power is an excellent way for homeowners to both save money and help air quality.

How are solar panels on your home helping air quality? By reducing the load on fossil fuel power generation. Here in Texas, most power plants run on natural gas. Some still use coal. During the hot summer months, when we have relentless sunshine, it takes a lot of gas or coal to produce ample electricity to keep our state running. That gas and coal produce greenhouse gases. Solar power, on the other hand, generates power with zero-polluting emissions.

The U.S. Department of Energy found that the “use of solar energy systems on buildings displaces electricity generation from coal, natural gas, and oil power plants, which can reduce air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and mercury; and greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide.” In New Jersey, the 2,351 solar energy systems in place in 2007 displaced 1.13 TONS of nitrogen oxide (NO_x). When you realize that NO_x is measured in parts per billion (ppb), you understand that a ton of NO_x saved is a big deal. Read more

The potential for pollution reduction is far greater in Texas than New Jersey. As this summer amply illustrates, we have an abundance of sunshine, which means that Central Texas home solar energy systems produce far more electricity — while reducing emissions — than the same size system in the Northeast.

Plant A Tree: Reduce Pollution

We’ve known for a long time that trees reduce greenhouse gasses by capturing carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen. But did you know trees can also reduce particulate matter (PM)? Their leaves intercept the PM and hold it until it rains, mixing it with soil.

PM, especially the ultrasmall stuff (2.5 microns), is a significant pollutant in our region. But trees can help! Trees trap these particles and hang on to them until precipitation cleans the leaves, and the particles fall to the ground with the rain. There they mix with the soil and are removed from the air. Of course, if it doesn’t rain, such as during our current drought, winds can blow the particles off the leaves, too.

The study of how trees interact with air pollution is fascinating. For more information, check out this story from nature.org.

You Can Help Us!

The Clean Air Force is part of the Amazon Smile program. If you designate us as your charity of choice, you can help keep our air clean every time you order from Amazon! There is no extra cost to you at all! We also participate in the Randall’s Supermarkets Good Neighbor Program.

Four ways to help keep our air clean

Encourage your company/workplace to become a Clean Air Partner
Volunteer at our special events
Donate to offset our expenses
Designate the Clean Air Force of Central Texas as your “Amazon Smile” or “Randall’s Good Neighbor” recipient. A percentage of each purchase will be donated to us at no additional cost to you. Let us know if you need help on how to do this.