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Air Notes
Up one levelOctober 2009 - Winter Advisory Season Starts October 1
It’s finally fall again. For many of us, this is the best time of the year. Autumn colors are just beginning to tint our urban forests. The smells of roasting green chile and fresh apples fill our lungs. So breathe deep, and as you inhale remember that our clean air is an essential resource that requires your participation to maintain its quality. This month’s Air Notes serves as a reminder for you to maintain your investments: your car and home. Proper maintenance for the colder months ahead will improve their performance; enhance their value; and minimize the pollution that is generated from their operation.
September 2009 - Summer Food Guide
As the summer’s bounty whets our appetites, many of us are enjoying the seasonal choices in our daily fare. Whether it’s for your meal or your family’s; consider all your important dietary needs before shopping for produce. Low fat, high fiber choices are a plus for any member of the family. And nature’s own flavors and colors offer the best benefits. The Environmental Working Group recently released the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides which is included in this month’s Air Notes. It provides an easy guide to keep with your grocery list. In addition, washing and peeling steps are in order before prep’ing foods for lunch or cooking. An alternative strategy is to buy local produce from our farmers that offer more opportunities to choose organic products. In any case, eat fresh and locally produced food and minimize your environmental impact on the earth. Enjoy!
August 2009 - Climate Action Town Halls
This month’s Air Notes Poster is an open invitation for all the community to participate in Climate Action Town Halls that will take place throughout the month of August. Please place this poster in public areas where your neighbors might see it. Read more about what the Climate Action Plan is all about at www.cabq.gov/cap. Join the dialogue and add your voice!
July 2009 - Indoor airPLUS
This summer remodeling and new home purchases are being considered. Indoor air and energy consumption are increasingly important for our health and sustainability. This month’s Air Notes highlights the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy’s Indoor airPLUS program. The program combines Energy Star efficiency with indoor air quality building criteria that will help to protect your family’s health, conserve energy and minimize your existing or new home’s carbon footprint. For more information visit, www.epa.gov/indoorairplus.
June 2009 - Protect Your Respiratory Health This Summer
At the on-set of summer, we strive to remind the community about the health impacts of ground-level ozone. Ozone can harm our respiratory system; especially our children and those of us who suffer from asthma or other pulmonary illnesses. Alternatively, public health education also encourages vigorous exercise to prevent illness and maintain a fit lifestyle. The summer is a perfect time to exercise outside, but when is it safe? Ozone formation peaks during the hottest and brightest hours of the day; between noon and 4:00 pm. Call 311 or 768-4734 for the daily ozone Air Quality Index before you get out there. Plan ahead for tomorrow by checking out the Ozone Forecast on-line at www.cabq.gov/airquality/ozoneforecasting.html. In any case it really is too hot to exercise during the heat of the day.
May 2009 - May is Car Care Month
The warm days of summer are almost here. Don't leave your Earth Day outlook behind. Channel it to your vehicle. Have you ever noticed the bright little set of lights on your dash; the instrument cluster? They usually go on when you start the engine, but on occasion one stays on. This light is a special indicator called the Check Engine Light. It is a function of the vehicle's On-Board Diagnostic system that is required for vehicles newer than 1996. The Check Engine Light acts as a red flag to tell you when something goes wrong with the emissions and/or performance system of your vehicle. Like your heart-beat and respiration rate, the Check Engine Light tells you that your car or truck needs attention. Don't ignore it; it won't go out until you assess the problem. Sometimes it’s simple and inexpensive, but it can get worse and more costly the longer your vehicle operates in this condition. This summer is sure to be a hot one, meaning that we have more reason to be concerned about ground-level ozone or smog. Air pollution that is generated from vehicles, especially sick cars, impacts our health and environment. So make sure your vehicle is in tip-top condition. You’ll get better fuel economy and save money. Collectively, we’ll enjoy better air quality and your Earth Day attitude will be with you all year.
April 2009 - Earth Day Every Day
Earth Day is on April 22. This year’s Air Notes poster provides some easy tips for the growing season to come. Whether you are starting a back-yard garden, planting flowers, or just sprucing up your yard, these tips are earth and people healthy too.
March 2009 - Let the Earth Rest for an Hour
March is a month of seasonal change. We in the southwest know March as the herald of spring winds and pollen. For this reason prior March Air Notes have highlighted our Pollen Program. We continue to provide daily (Monday thru Friday) pollen counts at www.cabq.gov/airquality/pollen.html. The site also provides a free email pollen report to your handheld or desktop. Easier still, 311 operators can provide that information over the phone. March is also an important month to acknowledge climate change and to act. That is why this month’s Air Notes poster focuses on a simple action to fight climate change. Sign up at EarthHourUS.org to participate in the annual Earth celebration on March 28, 8:30 to 9:30 pm. This is an hour that should be replicated as often as possible. Since spring is coming, take advantage of the extra daylight you receive and turn off all unnecessary lights. Join the world and transform each activity that uses electrical power into people power. Turn off the lights, open the blinds, pull back the drapes and enjoy the sunshine.
February 2009 - February is for Walking
This month, continue what we started talking about in January; walking. Get moving! Walking is good for your health, budget, and the environment. Every step that is walked can minimize the emissions that are generated from a driven vehicle. Walking conserves energy too. Do you need a safe place to walk? Visit the Parks and Recreation Department’s web site for a “prescription trail.” The Albuquerque Prescription Trails Pilot Program’s web site at www.cabq.gov/parks/prescription-trails will help you find a trail that fits your lifestyle and ability. The map highlights 34 parks and trails, including path mileage, grade, and number of steps. The site also provides information about the path’s surface material and if the park has handicap access.
January 2009 - Tightening Our Belts
Each new year many of us make resolutions that promise to improve our health, economic situation or attitude. Stand in any grocery or convenience store checkout line and there are magazines, pills and drinks that promise improvements to our health, vitality and the whiteness of your smile. We’ll go one better. What can we do individually to improve our health, pocketbook, and outlook, and protect our shared environment? This year it is our goal to make painless modifications to your lifestyle that will add up to a more sustainable community and put a smile on your face when you reap the benefits.
December 2008 - Holidays and Clean Air Go Together
This holiday season, plan your purchases carefully. Take into consideration the components and materials that were used to manufacture the toy or tool. Most toy manufacturers this year have eliminated lead from their manufacturing. Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site www.cpsc.gov to evaluate your purchase. Consider if the purchase was made from recycled materials or if it is recyclable when it is no longer useful to the recipient. Some products such as electronics have the potential to generate hazardous wastes that pose expensive and often times unavailable disposal options. Energy Star identified items are always a good choice if you are shopping for appliances, tools or electronics. Evaluate the purchases’ energy efficiency before buying so you are not gifting an item that is expensive to operate. Plan your trips accordingly to use the least fuel, in the most efficient way. Car pool or shop pool with family and friends to make the most of the holidays. Shopping together is half the fun of the season. Why not try mass transit for shopping or visiting this month? There are so many holiday events that are accessible via ABQRide. Check out www.cabq.gov to find out what’s happening, where, and when, the n get on board. This month’s Air Notes poster focuses on feeding ourselves and family. Many of us have microwave ovens and slow cookers that provide cost effective food preparation that minimizes the amount of energy needed. Another good tool that improves our health is portion control. Making meals for one person or a family presents a good opportunity to properly manage the amounts we consume to avoid waste. Wasted food translates to wasted money and energy. The culmination of these wastes can impact the environment in many ways from trash disposal to our waistline.
November 2009 - Fall is Here
If you spend any time outdoors this fall you may appreciate the fall colors and smells of the season. The fragrance of wood smoke mingles nicely with the hint of leafy mold and vehicle exhaust. What’s that you say? “It smells like smoke outside.” If you are one of the unfortunate people who suffer from allergies, asthma, or emphysema, these odors do more than offend, they can aggravate an existing health condition. The smells of fall are not benign to everyone. So heed the call this fall! Listen carefully for winter advisories that say when it is ok to burn and when not to burn. Post these helpful hints for seasonal home maintenance and wood burning activities.