Tuesday, August 3, 2004 is an Ozone Action Day!
The air quality forecast for Tuesday, August
3, is that GROUND-LEVEL OZONE
will be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
range, with the Air
Quality Index reaching 116. Sensitive groups are
defined as active children and adults as well as people with serious health conditions, such as asthma. Limit
prolonged outdoor activity and physical exertion. Ozone levels generally peak during late afternoon and early
evening hours. You can take these actions to help improve local air quality on an Ozone Action Day or any day:
Combine errands in one car-trip, when possible. A car pollutes five times
more when it’s started after sitting for an hour than when the engine’s warm.
- Ride the bus--call TARC at 585-1234 for route information. Carpool and
vanpool with your neighbors or co-workers. Call Ticket to Ride at 267-5400 for a match. Even once a week
can make a big difference for cleaner air and less traffic congestion.
- For the young and the young at heart: wear your helmet and use your
bike, in-line skates, skateboard and scooter to get around, especially for short trips and errands. Walk
more.
- Don’t top off fuel tanks. Re-fuel when it’s cool. These actions
prevent harmful fumes from mixing in the air to form more summertime smog. Maintain optimal tire inflation
and drive the speed limit for better fuel economy.
- Avoid using gas-powered lawn equipment. Mowing your yard for an hour
creates the same amount of pollution as driving from Louisville to Nashville in a newer car! Consider an
electric lawnmower and receive a rebate of up to $100 from APCD when you trade in the old one.
- Get a home energy audit by calling LG&E at 627-2097 and save $ on
cooling your home. Use ceiling fans or portable fans to help the AC work smarter. Consider ENERGY STAR
appliances for new purchases. Use water-based paints and solvents instead of oil-based.