Summer Chill

Summer Ozone Season Comes to an End

On August 31, the summer ozone season came to an end.  Check out these amazing numbers from one of Colorado's hottest summers.

• Eight days of record high temperatures in the month of July.

• An average high temperature of 94.5 degrees in July.

• Five consecutive 100 degree days on July 19-23, tying the old record set in 1989.

• Seven total 100 degree days -- the most to occur in any single summer in Colorado.

• July was the second hottest month in Colorado in recorded history.

These stats came from Channel 7's weatherman, Mike Nelson.  Click below to check out Mike's blog!
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/weather/4260630/detail.html

All of these statistics made the weather ripe for ground-level ozone to occur; however, Denver never violated the eight-hour standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

This summer marked a successful end to the first year of a three-year campaign. 

Click below to check out the End of Ozone Season press release!!
Download summer_ozone_season_ends_090105.doc

CNN Money: Saving gas without switching cars

A recent article in CNN Money talks about ways to improve the gas mileage of the car you own. With gas prices what they are, these are welcome tips. And what's more, improving your mileage reduces emissions and helps reduce ground-level ozone. 

Saving gas without switching cars
Fuel prices may be going up, but you can keep your automotive costs down.
August 12, 2005:  3:18 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - If you're dismayed with the poor gas mileage your car is getting, you might be thinking about buying a more efficient vehicle. In many cases, changing the way you care for your car and the way you drive it might provide a quicker and easier solution.

Don't buy what you don't need. Premium, high-octane fuels aren't necessarily better for your car just because they're premium, high-octane fuel. Such fuels don't provide any greater fuel efficiency. In fact, many cars are designed to use regular low-octane fuel. Check your owner's manual to see what your car requires and, at most, stick with that...

click here to view complete article

I breathe therefore I care!

Colorado saw four straight days of record-breaking temperatures last week, and the hottest day in the state in 127 years!!

With 16 of the first 19 days of July having been at or above 90°, the conditions have been just right for the formation of ground-level ozone.  The lack of precipitation, very low winds and relentless heat have prompted 20 Ozone Action Alerts this summer so far. 

And it looks like the weather is going to be heating up into the 90s again through the rest of this week.

Here are simple, everyday steps you can take to help reduce ground-level ozone pollution in the coming days and through the rest of the summer: 

• Mow your lawn after 5 p.m. - Protect your skin from the sun and take care of our summer air.  Gas-powered lawn and garden equipment (lawn mowers, leaf blowers and edgers) emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that cook in the heat of the sun and contribute to ground-level ozone pollution. By mowing in the evening you can help reduce emissions in the heat of the day when ozone is formed.

• Reduce driving whenever possible - Try and keep that car off the road - especially in the heat of the day. If you must drive, pile in with some friends and carpool to where you need to go. Run your errands in the evening if you can.
  

• Avoid painting or using household solvents on high ozone days - If you're going to paint, try using water-based paints, stains and sealants.  Save those solvent-based painting and stripping projects for the fall!
  

We all need to be conscious of ozone levels this summer. Look for alerts on highway message boards when driving home from work and on your local news during weather forecasts. You can also visit www.OzoneAware.org to check Front Range air quality status, sign up for e-mail alerts and for a complete list of simple steps you can take.

 

POSTERS: Local governments get the message out on ozone pollution

Look for these posters in local government offices for some helpful tips to reduce summer ozone pollution both on ozone alert days and every day.

Download them here, print them out and hang them up in your office or at home!
Do your part to help reduce ground-level ozone.

Download ozone_alert_posters.pdf

 

Young dancers spread clean air message

The Clean Air Crew dances through summer crowds encouraging people to reduce ozone!

Want to know how to reduce ground-level ozone this summer?  You can start by watching out for the Clean Air Crew at major events in the Denver area this summer.

Maybe you've already seen the Clean Air Crew, a group of dance students from Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, chanting, clapping, stomping and kicking at the Capitol Hill People's Fair, the Juneteenth Celebration or at the Bike to Work event. If not there's more to come!

The Clean Air Crew brings a lot of energy to their performances, mixing right in with the crowd and chanting tips for reducing ground-level ozone and keeping our summer air clean. 

 

The Clean Air Crew will be performing at these upcoming events:

Event: KidSpree - July 16 & 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Bicentennial Park, 13655 E. Alameda Ave., at the corner
of Alameda Avenue and Potomac Street just west of Interstate 225 in Aurora.

Event: Dragon Boat Festival - July 31, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.   

Location: Sloan's Lake Park, Sheridan Blvd. & W. 17th Ave.

 

Event: Western Welcome Week - August 20, 12:00 p.m.    

Location: Kids Dance Stage on Main St. in Littleton, corner of Main St. & Rapp St.

 

Event: 2005 Westminister Faire - August 20, 2005, Time to be determined

Location: Westminster City Park, 105th Ave. and Sheridan Blvd.                                                                                                                     

AirWaves Commercial Scholarship Contest winners announced

 
   

 

Looking to go beyond a same-old boring public service announcement, a group of air-concious organizations recently partnered up to give students a chance to record their own clean-air radio commercial - and to win a scholarship as well.

The AirWaves Commercial Scholarship Contest invited winners into the broadcast booth to voice their concerns over the effects of vehicle emissions on their health and environment to millions of people in Colorado.

The winners, pictured left with Ken Lloyd, executive director of the Regional Air Quality Council, were Dustin Klaffner, Alex Diner and Jennifer Kreps.  The three, who attend Olde Columbine High School, split the $1,500 scholarship and also won a $500 environmental grant for their school. Destiny Fernandez (above), from Frederick, won a $1,500 scholarship and a $500 grant for her school as well. 

The spots were written and read by the winners and can be heard throughout the summer on 97.3 FM KBCO.

The contest was sponsored by the Regional Air Quality Council, Envirotest, National Jewish Medical and Research Center and the American Lung Association.

The Clean Air Crew debuts this weekend!

The Clean Air Crew is performing this weekend at the Denver Heart Walk and the People's Fair!

What's the Clean Air Crew? It's an energetic group of dance students from Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. The group whose ages range from 11-23 uses a fun combination of dancing and chanting to help get the word out on how to prevent ground-level ozone pollution. The Clean Air Crew will mix in and perform right among the crowds at community events this summer.

Denver Heart Walk -  The Crew will be performing on Saturday starting at 9:30 or 10:00 in the morning until about 11:30 or noon at the park near the Denver Performing Arts Complex - near the big white statues, the Dancers.

People’s Fair – From noon till 2-3pm on Sunday, you can catch the Crew performing at the People's Fair.

Get out this weekend and see the Clean Air Crew in action!

Ozone Action Alert icons

  icons 
  Originally uploaded by OZ1.

The red icon is the Ozone Action Alert. On ozone alert days, please do your part to reduce ozone-causing emissions. Just chill  in the shade.

When you see the blue icon - you can breathe easy.

Summer ozone season has begun!

Front Range residents asked to take simple steps to help reduce ozone-causing emissions.

Check out the press release.