An ORANGE level Air Quality Alert for ozone has been issued for the Middle Tennessee region for Friday, August 24, 2012. Individuals with respiratory issues including asthma as well as children, the elderly and those who work or exercise outdoors should use caution. This is the 17th air quality alert of the 2012 ozone season.
What can you do to cut down on ozone pollution? Check out these tips:
Get Out of Your Car
Try walking or biking to work or to lunch; it’s good exercise! Plus, by leaving your car behind, even just at lunch time, you can save money and help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.
Don’t forget to sign up for EnviroFlash e-mails so that you will be notified of expected poor air quality days.
Reduce the amount of driving you do over the next few days. Here are a few ways to start.
- Try combining your errands into a single trip.
- Skip the drive-thru or bring your lunch to work.
- Call a friend and share a ride to work, or take the bus or train.
Refueling
- When refueling your vehicle, stop at the “click.” Spilling 1 ounce of gasoline that evaporates produces the same ozone-producing VOC emissions as a car driving 56 miles.
- Ozone forms when evaporative emissions “bake” in the heat. Refueling your car at night can help prevent formation of ozone, which will keep your lungs healthier.
Fuel Efficiency
Remember, small changes can have a big effect on gas mileage. Here are some suggestions:
- Aggressive driving (rapid acceleration, speeding, and quick braking) can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. Going easy on the gas and brake pedals can save you 15 cents to 96 cents per gallon!
- Driving a typical passenger vehicle at 75 mph uses 18 percent more gasoline than driving at 65 mph. That means you’re paying an additional 20 cents per gallon of gas for every 5 mph over 60 mph you’re driving.
- Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent – saving up to 55 gallons of gas each year.
Clean Air Partnership's Blog 
Posted by Code Orange Air Alert Issued for Third Day (August 25, 2012) « Clean Air Partnership's Blog on August 24, 2012 at 8:59 pm
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Posted by Deborah on August 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Sure my efforts to reduce air pollution is easy, but I am suffering from ozone in an area that has two major interstates running through it. I spend time in both Rutherford and Smith County. AND, according to the world ozone maps, it won’t help to move to remote areas.