In recognition of California Clean Air Day on October 2, 2019, VTA would like to remind you to do your part. Air pollution affects all of us and can be especially harmful for children and seniors. Poor air quality can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, cause shortness of breath, aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions, and affect the heart and cardiovascular system.

The best way to improve air quality on a daily basis is to drive less. Cars, light duty trucks, and other vehicles are the biggest source of air pollution, contributing 75 percent of emissions. Consider changing up your commute by riding VTA. Download the Transit app to help you on your way.

When you do drive, remember not to idle. Idling is leaving a vehicle’s engine running when parked and contributes to local and regional air pollution. Every 10 minutes of idling a car contributes more than one pound of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. You can save money, reduce air pollution, and help everyone breathe easier just by turning the key when sitting for more than 30 seconds at a car wash, drive-thru or pick up spot.

And at VTA we’re practicing what we preach by hosting a Sustianability Fair to educate our employees to be better stewards of our planet.

VTA is proud to be one of the many organizations that is pledging to help clean the air. To learn more about Clean Air Day, visit cleanairday.org. You can join the effort by taking the individual pledge. Use VTA as the pledge code when signing up.

Thank you for doing your part to save the planet for our kids and the future!

This article was contributed by VTA Environmental Planner III, Lani Lee Ho