Dear friend of the Sac Metro Air District,
I hope you enjoy our inaugural e-newsletter. We are not letting up on the fight against air pollution and the climate crisis. The Air District strives for a cohesive regional approach and a strong community by keeping you informed about our efforts, including zero-carbon and clean air projects, technology transformation programs, and opportunities each quarter. If you have any ideas regarding content for upcoming issues, please feel free to email your suggestions to Jamie Arno at jarno@airquality.org. I hope you find this e-newsletter helpful and informative about Air District activities and how we are moving forward to our goal of a clean air and a low-carbon future for all.
-Alberto Ayala, Air Pollution Control Officer
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The Sacramento region seems to be a smoke magnet, attracting smoke from wildfires burning throughout Northern California, and sometimes beyond. Depending on wind direction, the region may experience smoke impacts from fires burning in any direction. If you smell smoke you should go indoors or move to another location since smoke is unhealthy to breathe. For current conditions, forecasts, fire maps and health information visit the District’s Wildfire Smoke Information page at http://www.airquality.org/Air-Quality-Health/Climate-Change/Public-Outreach/Wildfire-Smoke-Information
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Green Tech
Net Zero Transportation Hub is
Coming Soon to Del Paso Heights!
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The Sac Metro Air District's Our Community CarShare Sacramento program is expanding service in our latest round of funding. Toyota generously donated eight Mirai to the CarShare program. The Mirai is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and will be housed at the Del Paso Mobility Hub, scheduled to open later this year. In partnership with Green Tech, the Mirai will be used to enhance the micro transit options in the Del Paso area by providing prescheduled rides to registered CarShare members.
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Has Shelter-In-Place Impacted Air Quality? |
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As our broader community has adapted to shelter-in-place orders and with a greater reliance on teleworking opportunities, one common question is being asked, “How is air pollution impacted with fewer cars on the roads?” With reduction in traffic related emissions (NO2, PM2.5, Ozone precursors, CO2e) across the globe being investigated, we are looking at the air quality impacts on the greater Sacramento region with the hope that this information can better inform future teleworking strategies. Taking into account weather and temperature differences each year, preliminary analysis shows a 11-37% range in improvements in PM2.5, NO2, and ozone in our region during the month of April 2020. We will be continuing our analysis including coordination with regional partners like Sacramento Area Council of Government to help inform future policy recommendations.
Learn more about our next steps to answer this question from our latest presentation. |
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Now Accepting Applications! |
We are now accepting applications for the Clean Cars 4 All program! This program offers up to $9,500 for low-income residents of Sacramento to purchase a plug-in hybrid, or all-electric vehicle. Sac Metro Air District makes an effort to direct funding towards low-income areas, as they experience higher than average levels of air pollution.
An eligibility quiz can be found here:
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The Sac Metro Air District, along with the California Air Resources Board and SMUD, provided funding for nine electric trucks to be launched as part of the Community Resource Project (CRP). CRP is a non-profit organization in Sacramento. They focus on providing housing, health, and education assistance to low-income communities. These electric trucks were delivered by Motiv Power Systems, a sustainable technology company based in Foster City.
Not only are the trucks energy efficient and zero emission, but their services will provide further community and environmental benefits. These vehicles will be used in Sacramento’s low-income communities to conduct energy audits, HVAC services, and an array of other services that can increase the energy efficiency of homes. By increasing efficiency in these areas, residents and homeowners will have lower utility bills and reduce the air pollution that comes from their homes.
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Public Opinion Poll:
COVID-19 Resilience in the Sacramento Region
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Valley Vision, Capital Public Radio and the Institute for Social Research have released the results of their latest scientific public opinion survey exploring the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across our region.
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Is Sacramento the next Phoenix, AZ? |
Thank you to everyone who joined us in July for our public webinar on the Urban Heat Island impact in the Sac Metro region. If you missed out, don’t worry! You can access the full recording of our webinar and presentation slides at anytime at AirQuality.org.
Just as a quick recap, the Sacramento region continues to grow hotter over time as a result of climate change - in fact, by the end of the century, we will have a climate more like that of Phoenix, Arizona today. The urban heat island effect worsens temperatures in cities and suburbs, as a result of pavements, roofs, and other characteristics of the built environment.
The Sac Metro Air District and the Local Government Commission have been studying this phenomenon (known as the urban heat island effect) in our region in attempts to reduce heat health risk, particularly among those most vulnerable. In this presentation, you will learn more about how heat impacts the air we breathe, why some neighborhoods are hotter than others, and what strategies can help cool communities and protect from extreme heat. Learn more about the Sacramento Urban Heat Island effect at our web page Keeping Cool in the Capital Region.
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The summer smog season runs May – October in the Sacramento region. During this time, you or your family members may feel the health effects of ground-level ozone air pollution. Ground-level ozone is the region’s primary pollutant this time of year. It’s mainly caused by the emissions from vehicles “cooking” in the hot summer sun. So, reducing your personal vehicle trips (unless you are driving an electric vehicle) is a great way to improve air quality. Visit SpareTheAir.com to view air quality forecasts, current conditions, health effects from air pollution and tips on how you can improve air quality. You can also download the Sacramento Region Air Quality app to check the forecast and current conditions.
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