Spotlight

Summer Ozone Season is Here

Today’s Air Quality

June officially marks the start of summer ozone season in the Front Range region. View the press release issued by City of Fort Collins and Larimer County Environmental Health.
Learn more about ozone

This Year's Lawn Mower Rebate Program Ends

The City of Fort Collins 2008 Fort Collins Rebate Mower Program has ended. Thank you to the 142 participants for your choice to purchase cleaner lawn mowers! In addition, 45 old gasoline mowers were recycled. Thank you participants and retailers!

The Denver Regional Air Quality Council is still offering rebates on select mowers through August 31, 2008, or while supplies last.

Didn't get a chance to purchase a reel or push mower through the Fort Collins Rebate Mower Program?

The good news is that rebates for purchasing clean lawn mowing services are still available!
View program details ».

Current Features

Air Quality Report

July 9, 2007 "Air Quality Report to the Community" video clip

Summer Time Ozone

Summer is the season for ozone pollution. It is formed when volatile organic compounds (such as auto emissions) combine and "bake" in the sunshine. This ground-level ozone is very unstable and can cause breathing problems and respiratory infections, particularly for the elderly, the young, and those with pre-existing aliments. Ground level ozone can also, however, affect perfectly healthy people who exercise outdoors.

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) is the lead air quality planning agency in the Denver metro area. It has partnered with state and local governments, businesses and citizens to launch a summer ozone education campaign called "Let's Take Care of Our Summer Air."
For more information, click here

Sign Up for Ozone Action Alerts!

The Colorado Department of Public Health issues alerts when elevated ozone levels are expected. Daily air quality advisories are available on-line or by calling 1-888-484-3247. Alerts will also be published in the Coloradoan on the weather page and on City Cable 14.

For more information or to sign up for an automatic e-mail Ozone Action Alert, click here.

Simple Things YOU can do to Reduce Ozone Pollution

• Stop at the Click don't overfill your gas tank
• Tight is Alright-Tighten your gas cap
• Keep your car tuned up
• Refuel in the evening on hot sunny days
• Walk to lunch and run errands in the evening
• Invest in new earth friendly lawn equipment
• Use gas-powered lawn equipment after 5pm on hot, sunny days
• Avoid painting and staining projects in the heat of the day
• Tightly cap solvents; store in a cool place
• Limit driving, combine trips, or use other modes
• Learn how you can save money and time by carpooling or joining a vanpool

What are the Ozone Levels in Fort Collins?

The three-year average ozone levels in Fort Collins are slightly below the federal health standard. View the Downtown Fort Collins 8-Hour Ozone Chart.

In 2007 the Fort Collins “West” monitoring site along the foothills recorded 7 readings that exceeded the federal health standard. View the 2007 Fort Collins Ozone Readings Above Federal Health Standards Chart.

• For more recent ozone measurements in Fort Collins and other Colorado locations, see the Air Pollution Division web site.
• For more information about ozone, click here.

Just Say No to Idling

The brown cloud - infamously ugly with the potential to cause health problems. Motor vehicles are the number one contributor to the brown cloud in Fort Collins, emitting more than 110 tons of pollutants EVERY DAY. We can do something about it by decreasing automotive engine idling. If your car is running but you're not moving, you're idling. Idling for more than 10 seconds consumes more gas than restarting the engine, so you'll save money too.

A recent survey suggests that almost half of Fort Collins drivers warm up their vehicles unnecessarily on cold winter mornings (engines warm up most efficiently while being driven, not while idling!) This adds up to 3,000 hours of idling each morning! Over one winter season, this adds up to 100,000 gallons of gasoline burned worth over $200,000, all while going nowhere!

Easy Action Steps to Reduce Unnecessary Idling

• Warm up your car in the morning for less than 30 seconds before you start driving.
• Turn off the engine for waits longer than 10 seconds.