During the summer months, it is not uncommon to see a haze in the sky due to ground-level ozone pollution. This lower ozone pollution is created when emissions from factories, trucks, buses, and construction equipment are exposed to strong sunlight and long hot days. The emissions are linked with increased asthma attacks and shortness of breath which affect children, the elderly and individuals with respiratory illnesses most frequently.
Many cities across the U.S. have enacted No-idling Rules in order to reduce ozone pollution. More than 31 states including Arizona, California, Colorado, and now Ohio have enacted a 5 minute idling regulation. In July of 2012, the EPA released the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, or transport rule, which will work to reduce smog-causing pollution generated by fossil-fuel-burning power plants. Last year The Diesel Emission Reduction Act was created as a competitive grant program for public and private groups to apply for clean-diesel technology.
At the local level, some cities in Northeast Ohio have taken steps to reduce ozone-forming pollution. They have done this by switching their fleets to cleaner fuels, installing diesel-emission reduction equipment and encouraging public transportation.
In Ohio, cities such as Cleveland, South Euclid, North Olmsted, Highland Hills, Maple Heights and Lakewood have all adopted fuel-conservation ordinances, and a 5-minute idling policy, to help improve air quality. Fuel-conservation ordinances require that vehicles idle no more than five minutes during a 60-minute time period.
In Cleveland, there is a “hazecam” that was installed in 2010 where a new image of the Cleveland skyline is posted on a website every 15 minutes. Is your city on the no-idling list? Check out the list of states and cities that have idling policies in this .pdf file.
If your city is not on the list, you can visit cleanairzone.org for bumper stickers, window decals, and brochures to support running a idle reduction campaign in your community.
Image Source:
www.clevelandhazecam.net
Links:
Make a LEaP. Turn it off Video
Idling Laws – List of Cities and States .pdf file