There are several things YOU can do to improve our air quality!
On-road Mobile
Examples include the cars and trucks you see on the road everyday.
- Telework, join a car or vanpool, ride your bicycle, or ride public transit to work.
- Drive the cleanest car that fits your lifestyle.
- Bring your lunch to work rather than driving to lunch.
- Plan ahead to combine short trips. Fewer trips produce less air pollution.
- Reduce/stop vehicle idling.
- Keep vehicles in good working condition.
What Mecklenburg County Air Quality (MCAQ) is doing:
Nonroad Mobile
Examples include construction equipment, trains, airplanes and even lawn equipment.
- Use electric or hand-powered lawn equipment.
- Reduce use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment.
- Wait until after 6pm to use gas-powered equipment on Code Orange, Red or Purple days.
What MCAQ is doing:
- Administers the Grants to Replace Aging Diesel Engines (GRADE) program.
- Organizes and promotes a Green Lawn Maintenance program: MowGreenCLT.
Industrial Sources
Examples include manufacturing and power plants.
- Buy energy-efficient appliances and lighting.
- Install a programmable thermostat to save energy (and money) when you are away or asleep.
- Use major appliances (oven, dishwasher, washer and dryer) during cooler parts of the day.
- Turn off unused lights, appliances and computers.
- Insulate your home to cut down on heating and cooling.
- Learn more way you can save money will improving air quality on our Energy Efficiency Resource page.
What MCAQ is doing:
- Ensures compliance of local
permitted sources of air pollution.
- Supports workplace energy efficiency campaigns.
Area Sources
Examples include gas stations, drycleaners, vegetation, and forest fires.
- Never burn trash or other man-made materials.
- Refuel vehicles and lawn equipment after 6pm when ground-level ozone is least likely to form.
- Use water-based paints and cleaners instead of solvent-based products.
What MCAQ is doing: