Tuesday, August 17, 2010

"The Way to Clean Air" and the AQHI

Poor air quality is associated with thousands of premature deaths and hospitalizations in Canada each year. Air pollution worsens heart problems and aggravates lung conditions, such as asthma and bronchitis. In people without respiratory conditions, air pollution reduces lung function and irritates the eyes nose and throat. One way to reduce the number of days with high AQHI readings is to become more environmentally friendly in your daily activities.

The “20/20 The Way to Clean Air” Campaign is designed to help individuals reduce both home energy use and vehicle use by 20 per cent, as well as reducing vehicle emissions when you do need to drive. By reducing your energy consumption and vehicle use, you are paving the way towards cleaner air, and fewer days of poor air quality.

This campaign provides you with practical tips, including adjusting your thermostat levels, using cold water for your laundry, cleaning your refrigerator coils, reducing “phantom power” in your electronics, keeping your car tires properly inflated, tele-working or tele-commuting, and carpooling.

To order a free 20/20 Planner with a step-by-step action plan to reduce your energy use call 1-866-583-2020 or visit www.cleanairpartnership.org/2020.

What steps are you taking to reduce your energy consumption, and reduce the number of poor air quality days in your area?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Lifestyle Changes

1) What lifestyle changes will you make based on the air quality reading? Will you adjust your outdoor activities/medicine use in accordance with the AQHI reading in order to minimize your exposure to air pollution? Will you be more environmentally friendly in order to help reduce air pollution? Please explain.

Preferred Communication Method

1) What is your preferred communication method of recieving the AQHI reading?

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Health Messages

Please refer to the "Health Messages" icon on the right sidebar (below "Air Quality Health Index") to preview the Health Messages prior to commenting on question #1

1) Do you find that the health messages explain adequately how to adjust your outdoor activity level based on the current AQHI reading?

Air Quality Health Index

1) Do you find that the AQHI is useful and informative? Does the AQHI provide a clear message about the local air quality? Please explain.