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Published on 11/27/1995 All articles from this issue

How Santa Clara County can spare the air

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Clean air...most of us take it for granted. After all, the Bay Area has the cleanest air of any major metropolitan area in the United States. But as Santa Clara County residents know, air pollution levels can still build up, particularly during the warm summer months. In 1995, in fact, a very warm summer has brought the highest air pollution levels since 1987. Thus far, this year in Santa Clara County there have been six days in excess of the federal health standard for ground-level ozone and 20 days in excess of the more stringent state ozone standard. On days when standards are exceeded, about half of the county's population is at risk for health effects from air pollution-including seniors, children, and people with lung problems and ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.

On summer days when air pollution is expected to exceed state or federal air quality standards, the Air District will declare a Spare the Air day and ask you to voluntarily make small changes in your lifestyle to benefit air quality. The best thing you can do on a Spare the Air day is to leave your car at home. For each day you leave your car at the curb, a pound of pollution is eliminated. With the public's participation, this can add up to tons of pollution avoided. Try transit, carpooling, walking, bicycling or telecommunicating instead. If you have to use your car, use it wisely and link all your trips together to eliminate polluting cold starts. Listen for Spare the Air announcements on radio and television, or call the Air District at 1-800-Help Air.

By participating in the Spare the Air campaign, you will be part of the largest voluntary effort of this kind in the country. The Spare the Air program is a simple and cost-effective way to reduce pollution without the hindrance and economic threat of more government regulations.

More than 650 companies and organizations, representing nearly 10 percent of the region's population, have joined the Spare the Air campaign this year, including the City of Los Altos. These employers educate their employees about air quality and notify them directly on Spare the Air days.

We invite you to join the thousands of people this summer and fall helping to keep our air clean and healthy. To learn more about the Spare the Air program, call 1-880-HELP AIR.

- Submitted by Councilperson Marge Bruno, Supervisor Jim Beall, Vice Mayor Trixie Johnson, and Councilperson Barbara Koppel.