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Idle Reduction Programs and Gas Cap Checks at Your School!. June 15 th 2012. PARTNERSHIPS … Working together to keep our air clean!. What’s the problem? (Morning Session) Why do we care about air quality? Idle Reduction Programs Gas Cap Check Program.
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Idle Reduction Programs and Gas Cap Checks at Your School! June 15th 2012
What’s the problem? (Morning Session) • Why do we care about air quality? • Idle Reduction Programs • Gas Cap Check Program What are we going to talk about today?
Where do pollutants come from? • Sources of Pollutants • Point (e.g., electric utilities, refineries, “smokestack” industries, etc.) • Area (e.g., dry cleaners, paints, solvents, etc.) • Mobile (e.g., cars, trucks, construction equipment, etc.) • On-Road (Cars, trucks, buses) • Non-Road (Airplanes, trains, construction equipment) • Biogenic (e.g., trees, vegetation, soils) Issues such as idling and leaking gas caps cause emission related pollution making vehicles the number one contributor to ground level ozone.
Other Point Sources8% Area Sources11% Electric Power Plants16% On-road vehicles48% Off-road vehicles17% • Air Pollution 101 • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Light-Duty Vehicles46% Heavy-Duty Vehicles54% 2009 Data
Idle Reduction programs Reduce pollution at your school
Idle Reduction • What is idling? • Why should we have a idle reduction program at your school? • 3,000 signs posted across the State. Many schools have actively reduced idling through programs.
Goals of an Idle Reduction Campaign • I. Reduce total vehicle idling time during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up of students. • II. Raise awareness about the health risks and costs of vehicle idling for students and drivers. • III. Promote behavioral changes
Steps of an Idle Reduction Campaign • I. Design the Program. • Time period, budget, etc. • II. Gather Materials. • Flyers, window stickers, stopwatches, counters, clipboards • III. Undercover data collection • IV. Media Blitz • Posters, plays, videos, newsletters, email, websites • Data Collection during project • Present Data
Keys to Success • Follow all the steps of the toolkit (they are in there for a reason!) • Customize for your school. • Get support from other teachers, parent organizations, and administrative staff • Have fun and let it be a student centered project!
No Idling Toolkit – Checklist http://www.campaignforcleanair.org
Gas Cap Checks Purpose • Public awareness of how a faulty gas cap and under inflated tires contribute to poor gas mileage and emission related pollution. • Public awareness of health effects related to emission pollution • Provide money-saving tips related to a properly maintained vehicle • Provide resources for information on emissions pollution and air quality.
Gas Cap Checks • Up to 30 gallons of gasoline can escape from a leaking gas cap. • 30 gallons of fuel become 200 pounds of emissions that directly affect your local air quality. • Low tire pressure can also affect a vehicle’s fuel economy. Gas mileage can decrease 4% for every missing pound of pressure.
Gas Cap Check Toolkit – Checklist • http://www.campaignforcleanair.org
John E. Wear, WPCOG (828) 485-4283 john.wear@wpcog.org Tony Gallegos, WPCOG (828) 485-4248 tony.gallegos@wpcog.org Jonathan Navarro, DAQ Environmental Senior Specialist Milli Hayman, DAQ Environmental Specialist II CONTACT INFO airawareness@ncdenr.gov 1-800-RU4NCAIR www.NCAIR.org 6th Annual Unifour Air Quality Conference