Valley's air quality's getting better -- let's keep it up

By Seyed Sadredin

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This summer, let's build on the momentum of cleaner air. Let's commit to making one change in our daily routines for air-quality improvement.

During winter 2008-09, the valley's air quality was among the cleanest in decades, and most of the credit goes to valley residents for doing their part. In response to educational messages from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, residents from San Joaquin to Kern counties heeded calls from community leaders to cut back the use of residential fireplaces.

As a result, the number of days with "good" air quality increased dramatically and the number of "unhealthy" days dropped by 50 percent, valleywide. In fact, we had no "unhealthy" days in Fresno County.

Let's keep the momentum going. Can you make one change, such as riding a bike to work or carpooling? How about using an electric lawn mower or making your home more energy efficient? Take your pick from a wide array of clean-air choices you can find at www.healthyairliving.com.

We the people can do much to clean our air. In fact, we cannot achieve our clean-air goals through business regulation alone. Valley businesses, including agriculture, already are subject to some of the toughest air regulations in the nation. A few changes in our daily routines can achieve a great deal of reductions in air pollution at little or no cost. In fact, much of what we can do as individuals will save us money and improve our health.

More than ever, in these tough economic times, we must use our resources wisely and strategically. Some question spending resources on public education and argue for more expensive regulations on businesses. We at the air district contend that we must supplement effective regulations with a healthy dose of public education and participation.

Despite a great potential for dividends, however, no one should underestimate the challenge that comes with asking the public to accept some responsibility. Asking people to use their cars and fireplaces less frequently triggers strong emotional reactions.

This year, the air district plans to spend about 30 cents per person in the valley to get the word out. We hope to do this through our year-round Healthy Air Living initiative, which replaced the old Spare the Air program.

Reaching out to more than 3.5 million people in three different media markets is not an easy task. Aside from traditional media, we hope to engage the public through "new media" such as Twitter and Facebook (become a friend), face-to-face gatherings in community events such as Healthy Air Living Chats and many other public events throughout the valley, and partnerships with businesses, teachers and students.

Help us get to cleaner air by getting the word out to friends and relatives. The air district is providing a great opportunity with a series of free, informal, public meetings this summer in every county in the air basin, including in Merced County on Thursday (Merced) and Stanislaus County on July 21 (Salida). For a complete schedule, visit www.healthyairliving.com.

We hope to see you there. Together, we can clean up the air.

Sadredin is the executive director and air pollution control officer for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.