County Judge offers advice to lower air pollution

Local News

September 21, 2007

Anonymous The Weatherford Democrat Fri Sep 21, 2007, 01:35 PM CDT

Special to the Democrat

Living in one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas has its advantages, but unfortunately it also brings about big city problems like air pollution.

Serving on the North Texas Clean Air Steering Committee for the past three years, Parker County Judge Mark Riley has focused on working to improve the region’s air quality.

Currently the Dallas-Fort Worth region, which includes Parker County, is in violation of the federal ozone standard.

While ozone in the upper atmosphere is a good thing, providing a blanket of protection from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, ozone at the ground level of the atmosphere is a health hazard to humans, wildlife and agriculture.

“Just like water, our air is a natural resource that we cannot afford to ruin,” Riley said. “While we have worked to improve government policy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, this situation calls for us all to make lifestyle changes, and the good news is, if we make those changes we can make a difference.”

Motor vehicles are the largest producer of the pollutants that bring on the ozone problems in our area and while giving up motor vehicles is not possible, changes can be made in the vehicles and in the driving habits of vehicle owners that can lessen the pollutants emitted.

High emitting vehicles produce excessive emissions or are not in compliance with emissions standards. An estimated 10 percent of the region’s vehicles are contributing up to 50 percent of the pollution.

Motorists who have vehicles that do not pass emissions tests may be able to receive financial help from the State, to repair or replace their vehicle, through the AirCheck Texas Repair and replacement Assistance Program.

Other programs seek to identify cleaner fuel options and remove high-emitting vehicles from the road through better technology or increased law enforcement.

In addition, vehicles release a greater amount of pollutant emissions during the first few minutes after ignition because the engine has not yet reached optimal operating temperature. Frequent and shorter trips increase the magnitude of this problem. Work to reduce cold starts by driving less through increased pedestrian and bicycle use.

Also, operating a vehicle in ways that require greater engine power, such as hard or “jackrabbit” accelerations, result in increased fuel consumption and an increased pollutant emissions rate.

Higher speeds cause greater engine load and increase fuel consumption and emissions, too. Follow the speed limits.

Conversely, vehicles operating at lower speeds release more emissions as well. Roadway congestion decreases vehicle speeds and prolongs the operating time of a vehicle per trip. Look to avoid busy intersections and bottlenecks when possible.

Vehicle idling also increases pollutant emissions through additional fuel combustion and incomplete fuel combustion that occurs while the engine is not operating at an optimum temperature.

Avoid excessive idling by turning off your vehicle.

For more information on improving air quality, visit www.northtexasair.org.

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County Judge offers advice to lower air pollution

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