Thank you for being part of the Drive Clean Across Texas e-mail group. We hope you use this listserv as a means to ask questions, share ideas and success stories, and to learn what doing to clean up our air.
Here is the latest news from Drive Clean Across Texas.
If you are involved in educating the public about air quality in Texas, please join the Clean Air Public Roundtable meeting on January 12, 2005 at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Headquarters in Austin. Learn more about air quality issues in Texas, share your activities and resources with other communities and get updates on statewide initiatives. For more information, contact James Voelker at 512-239-3182/ JVoelker@tceq.state.tx.us or Ted Hazen at 512-239-4161/ THazen@tceq.state.tx.us.
Carlton Bennet, Paseo del Norte, is working with Case & Associates on a pilot air quality outreach program. Case and Associates is a management company in El Paso that owns six properties. They have been including Drive Clean Across Texas materials, stamped with the Paseo del Norte contact information on the back, in their new renter "move-in" packets. They average 30 - 50 new renters per month. Carlton said the program is doing well and allows them to reach a broad demographic with an air quality message. "We have customized our efforts to fit the needs of Case and Associates," says Bennet. Additionally, Case and Associates displays a sign and recommended actions on Ozone Action days for its residents. "This is just one example of working with the community and we hope to extend it to many more businesses in the area." For more information on this program, contact Carlon Bennett at (915) 203-0175.
Save Gas and Money. Avoid Aggressive Driving. Aggressive driving, rapid acceleration and/or quick stops has been shown to increase fuel use up to 33% for a time savings of only 4%.
If you haven’t seen the latest Drive Clean Across Texas TV commercial, check out, Creatures. The spot produced in English and Spanish features some lovable Texas creatures making a case for clean air. You will see these spots airing again throughout the state next ozone season. If you would like a copy of this TV spot, please contact Michelle Hoelscher at m-hoelscher@tamu.edu. Many local air quality programs have shared this spot with their local media and received free air time. Help us spread the word that vehicle emissions play a big role in Texas’ air quality problem.
The following are recent air quality articles that have run around the state.
The EPA wants to encourage more companies to offer benefits such as $30 or more a month for commuting costs, emergency rides home for parents with children and a shower or locker rooms for bike riders. Read more.
Existing controls inadequate in United States, study finds.
Children who live in polluted communities are five times more likely to have clinically low lung function - less than 80 percent of the lung function expected for their age... Read more.
If you are interested in ordering any Drive Clean Across Texas materials such as Coloring and Activity Books, Bookmarks, Brochures, etc., please e-mail or call the publications staff at TCEQ at puborder@tceq.state.tx.us, or 512-239-0028. Be sure to include the document number and name, the quantity you are requesting and a physical shipping address and contact name on the order. These materials have been made available at no charge, so please only request as many as you need. To view a current list of complementary materials, see the Drive Clean Across Texas website at http://www.drivecleanacrosstexas.org/order_materials/.
The Clean Air Crew video, introducing TEX, DOT, Cool Jay, and Ollie Ozone in their first-ever animated form, will be available in late November. This six-minute video teams the Clean Air Crew against the dreaded "Smog King," who relishes polluted skies. TEX and DOT teach their classmates simple steps everyone can do to improve air quality and defeat the Smog King!
Each local program will receive a quantity of videos. Additional videos can be ordered in December at: puborder@tceq.state.tx.us or by calling 512-239-0028.
Check out the cleanest and most fuel efficient cars on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Vehicle Guide. Information on 2005 vehicles is now available. http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/Index.do.
The number of hybrid vehicles available to consumers continues to grow. In model year 2005 both Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation will be offering hybrid SUVs. Ford is offering a 2005 Escape Hybrid and Toyota will be offering hybrid versions of the Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX400 SUVs. For more information check out http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybrid_news.shtml.
The next time you see a car, truck, or bus anywhere in Texas with dirty smoke coming from its exhaust for more than 10 consecutive seconds, write down the license number, date, time, and location you saw the smoking vehicle.
Report the smoking vehicle, within 30 days, by submitting an online reporting form on www.smokingvehicles.org or by calling 1-800-453-SMOG (7664). You do not have to give your name, and the report is free.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will then notify the owner in writing that his or her vehicle may be contributing to air pollution by smoking excessively. The TCEQ will also provide the owner with information about how car maintenance will improve the vehicle's performance.
Don’t forget to use this list serv to share ideas on what your area is doing to help air quality and to ask questions of other members. We can all learn and benefit from what is working in other areas of our state. To email the group, send your message to: drivecleanacrosstexas@listserv.tamu.edu
Thank you for your support of Drive Clean Across Texas.
