NewVA Moves

Help us improve air quality!

Transportation choices can help us meet the new clean air standards.  There is good news.  We can meet the new federal 8-hour Ozone standards.  The new standards are at 75 parts per billion (ppb).  Our current 3-year average is at 76 ppb.  With simple choices and concerted effort we can reduce one ppb from our average this summer alone.  Through a combination of local actions, state programs and federal rules we have reduced our 3-year Ozone average from a high of 87 ppb in the late 1990s, to the current 76 ppb.  So, it is definitely feasible to improve one ppb or more this summer.  One of the easiest ways to help is to carpool, take transit, walk or bike to work, even if it is just one day a week.  Small actions have a way of adding up when you are right on the borderline.  Otherwise, please don't mow or fill up the car during the hot part of the day i.e. before 5:00 pm.  That's it! A small to moderate group of people consistently doing these simple things will really add up.  It may even save you some money as well.  To take the one day a week (carpool, transit, walk or bike) challenge go back to the air quality page for details.  Check out the BBC article from last week as well as a local news report that brings it closer to home.