| Ozone
Reduction
Q. What is
the best time of day to reduce ozone formation?
A.
Ozone can form throughout the daylight hours, but the best time to
reduce
emissions and help prevent high ozone concentrations from occurring is
usually from 5:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The ozone precursors (VOCs and
NOx)
must "cook" in sunlight before a chemical reaction can take place that
produces ozone. This process can take several hours. Consequently,
activities
occurring well before noon can produce emissions that contribute to
high
ozone concentrations well after noon.
Because of the
lag time between emissions and ozone formation, it is best to avoid
doing
things early in the day, which can contribute to a high ozone build up
during the afternoon and evening hours. As a rule, most
emissions-producing
activities may be shifted to the late afternoon or early evening hours
without contributing to high ozone concentrations. Another option is to
postpone activities that produce emissions until the Air Quality Index
(AQI) is code green.
Click here for What is
the Air
Quality Index (AQI)?
Q.
What can
we do to reduce ground-level ozone?
A.
Instead of waiting for an Ozone Action Day, it is recommended that
employers,
households and individuals voluntarily establish daily routines that
reduce
ozone precursor emissions throughout the ozone season (May thru
September).
On Ozone Action Days, emissions producing activities should be avoided
altogether or until the late afternoon or evening hours, or postponed
to
another day when the AQI is code green. Here are some ways concerned
citizens
can voluntarily participate in helping to reduce harmful ground-level
ozone
pollution
in central Arkansas:
Click here for 10
Simple Steps to Improving Air Quality
Use Alternative
Forms of Transportation
Click here for "Choose
Alternative Modes of Transportation"
• Use
available public transit. Many areas in Pulaski County are served by
transit.
Visit the Central
Arkansas Transit site.
• Join a Car Pool.
Check with your employer or contact Central Arkansas Rideshare.
Click
here for CAR
Information.
• Join a Vanpool.
The State Employee's Association sponsors a vanpool program that is
open
to non-state employees.
Go to the ASEA
Vanpool Program.
• Buy a clean,
efficient and affordable hybrid electric or alternative fuel vehicle.
Check out EPA's Green Vehicle Guide
Hybrid cars: Auto Alternatives for
the 21st Century
Hybrid Vehicles - Not just
hybrid cars
Click for DOE's
Fuel Economy Website
• Walk or bike
when appropriate. Please note that strenuous physical activity outdoors
can be unhealthy on Ozone Action Days, when high concentrations of
ozone
exist at ground level (typically between 10:00 a.m. and 8 p.m.).
National
Center for Bicycling and Walking
Reduce,
Eliminate or Reschedule Driving
• Postpone
or consolidate errands.
• Click here to learn about
Trip Chaining.
• Reduce travel
during congested peak rush hour traffic.
• Schedule appointments
and meetings for as late in the day as possible.
• Carpool to
meetings or replace face-to-face meetings with conference calls.
• Avoid driving
at lunchtime (bring a sack lunch, walk or carpool to lunch, etc.)
• Take advantage
of alternative work arrangements, such as telecommuting, flextime,
four-day
workweeks, or staggered work hours.
Refuel
in Late Afternoon or Evening
• Refuel
your car late in the day, preferably after 5:00 p.m. Click here to learn more
about Refueling in the Evening.
• On the day
before an Ozone Action Day, if your car is low on fuel, remember to
stop
at the gas station on the way home from work.
• DON'T TOP OFF
YOUR GAS TANK! Avoid topping
off your gas tank, especially in hot weather.
• Be careful
to avoid spills and overfills at the gas station, since gasoline fumes
supply a major ingredient for ozone formation. Apply the same
precautions
against sloppy refueling when filling lawnmowers, outboard motors, etc.
Drive
Wisely
Click here for "Drive
Wise: How you can help."
•
Idling: You'll save gas and reduce emissions by turning the engine
off and restarting it when you would otherwise idle for two minutes or
more.
• Stop-and-go
driving: Avoid travel during congested, peak "rush-hour" traffic.
Try
to smooth your driving by accelerating and decelerating gradually,
anticipating
stops and starts for traffic lights, changing traffic speeds, etc.
• Parking
in sun: Park in shaded areas whenever possible. Besides keeping
your
car's interior more comfortable, you will lessen pollution and wasted
fuel
that results from gasoline evaporating from the engine and gas tank.
• High engine
loads: Your car's engine works
harder when you run the air conditioner, quickly
accelerate,
cruise at high speeds, climb grades, rev the engine or carrying or
pulling
extra weight. Leave earlier to avoid the need to speed to your
destination.
• Reduce
drag: To save gas and cut emissions, don't carry unneeded items in
your vehicle, and reduce drag by carrying cargo inside rather than on
your
roof racks. Drive with your pickup tailgate open or removed when
possible.
If your vehicle has overdrive, shift into overdrive whenever your speed
is sufficient.
• Maintain
Your Car: You can reduce your car's emissions and enhance its
performance
by following the manufacturer's maintenance recommendations. For
example,
by checking your tires and maintaining proper air pressure, you will
save
fuel, extend the life of your tires, as well as reduce the risk of a
"blow
out". Click here for Maintaining
Your Car.
Conserve
Electricity
Set
your air conditioner at a higher temperature or turn it off altogether,
especially when no one is there.
Click here to learn about energy
efficient products and services.
Postpone
Mowing and Barbecuing
• Two-cycle
engines, often found in lawn mowers, chain saws, outboard motors,
all-terrain
vehicles and off-road motorcycles, are especially bad air polluters.
Avoid
use of these small gas-powered engines until late afternoon or evening
hours or postpone these activities to another day when the AQI is code
green. Learn more about Your Yard and
Clean Air.
• Charcoal starter
fluid is a source of volatile organic compounds that combine with
nitrous
oxides to create ozone. Avoid barbecuing outdoors until late afternoon
or evening hours or postpone to another day when the AQI is code green.
Landscape with Native Plants
• Landscaping with native plants can help improve air
quality by reducing or eliminating the need for lawn maintenance
equipment (such as lawn mowers, weed edgers, leaf blowers, etc.) which
are fueled by gasoline, electricity, or batteries. Click here for Green
Landscaping.
Use
Care with Solvents and Other Volatiles
• Avoid
using aerosol products and oil-based paints and solvents until as late
in the day as possible, or postpone to another day when the AQI is code
green.
• Follow manufacturers'
recommendations for use, and properly seal containers for paints,
cleaners,
fuels, and other chemicals to prevent evaporation into the air.
Boaters
Can Prevent Pollution
• New commercial and recreational marine engines meet
emissions standards, but boaters can still make a difference by
adapting various practices. Click to learn more about Boating Pollution
Prevention Tips.
Q.
How can employers
voluntarily participate in Ozone Action Days?
A.
Employers should establish an Ozone Action Plan at the work place that
encourages employees to take specific measures to help reduce ozone
exposure
as well as the formation of ozone. The action plan could involve many
of
the voluntary actions noted above. In some cases, specific actions
could
be planned that employees would be encouraged or required to follow.
Some
actions could be reserved for the code orange Ozone Advisories and code
red Ozone Alerts, while other actions could be implemented routinely as
standard operating procedure during the ozone season (May through
September)
or when the ozone forecast is code yellow or above.
Click
here to request technical assistance in developing an ozone action plan
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