In 2012, the Air District issued a total of 10 summer and five winter Spare the Air Alerts on days when air quality was forecast to be unhealthy. Air District survey results show that the public responded and took action on those days—and all year long—to reduce pollution.
Everyday activities—driving, painting, mowing the lawn, wood burning and even using aerosol hairsprays and deodorants—add pollution to the air we breathe. Many of these activities fall outside the Air District’s regulatory jurisdiction. However, the Air District encourages Bay Area residents to “Spare the Air” every day through its public education campaigns.
SPARE THE AIR EVERY DAY
The Spare the Air Every Day program educates the public about air pollution and promotes long-term behavior changes that improve air quality. From April to October, the Air District issues Spare the Air Alerts on days when ozone pollution is forecast to be unhealthy. On Spare the Air days, the Air District urges residents to reduce their driving by walking, biking, taking transit, or carpooling, as well as taking steps to lower their energy use and cut back on pollution. People sensitive to pollution, such as children and the elderly, are cautioned to limit outdoor exposure.
Spare the Air Alerts and daily air quality forecasts are posted at www.sparetheair.org, recorded on the 1 (800) HELP AIR phone line, and announced in local media. Bay Area residents can also sign up on the website to be notified via email AirAlerts.
In 2012, the Air District continued to leverage its social media efforts through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, and Pinterest, which are effective vehicles for delivering timely air quality information, and disseminating educational messages to the public. In addition, the first Spare the Air iPhone and Android apps were launched to provide helpful air quality information as well as real-time Spare the Air Alerts for Bay Area residents.
WINTER SPARE THE AIR
The Winter Spare the Air program runs from November through February, when particulate matter from woodstoves and fireplaces becomes a major health concern in the Bay Area.
The 2011-12 Winter Spare the Air season ended with the highest number of Winter Spare the Air Alerts in five years. There were 15 alerts, 11 days that exceeded the national air quality health standard, and another nine days that nearly exceeded the standard.
The Winter Spare the Air program and the Air District’s wood burning regulation have resulted in a 15 percent drop in the concentration of air pollution over the past five years, according to preliminary air quality monitoring data. Survey results have indicated that one-quarter of Bay Area residents have reduced their wood burning overall, but it is clear more needs to be done.
SMOKING VEHICLE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Air District’s Smoking Vehicle Assistance Program was implemented to decrease the number of vehicles spewing visible tailpipe exhaust on the region’s roads and highways.
In 2012, outreach for the Smoking Vehicle program was integrated with the Spare the Air campaign and urged residents to report smoking vehicles by calling 1 (800) EXHAUST, using the Spare the Air iPhone or Android app, or reporting online at www.800exhaust.org. Owners are notified that their vehicle may be operating illegally and are encouraged to have it checked and repaired.
To assist owners of smoking vehicles, the Air District has a one-stop website, www.SmokingVehicleHelp.org, where owners can obtain information about assistance programs for vehicle repair or retirement.
MEDIA OVERVIEW FOR 2012
In 2012, our Spare the Air and Winter Spare the Air campaigns garnered nearly 110,000,000 million media impressions. Those impressions were due in part to the 8,463 TV spots aired, 2,523 traditional media stories presented, and 5,586,436 social media impressions throughout the year.