What can I do to play my part?
Our environmental protection team has issued some tips for people looking to help improve air quality. They are:
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Give your car a day off, try to walk to work or school. If you drive, turn off your engine when your vehicle is stationary and it is safe to do so.
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Consider going electric. The availability of electric charging points is increasing all the time. Nationally, there has been a huge increase in the registration of electric cars since 2015... why not join them?
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To improve in-home air quality, ventilate your property, open windows and use extractor fans when cooking or using cleaning products, but close windows near busy roads during rush hours.
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Think about the products you use around the house. Use fragrance-free milder cleaning products. Choose paints and varnishes that are labelled 'low volatile organic compounds'.
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Only burn dry, well-seasoned wood or smokeless fuel in your stove, open fire or BBQ. A stove is better than an open fire.
What's our role?
It is the responsibility of council officers to monitor air pollution and respond to any air pollution incidents.
Our environmental protection team monitors air quality in accordance with the Government programme and monitors for nitrogen dioxide every month across 15 monitoring locations in the borough.
Cllr Jim Lister, Allerdale’s executive member for finance and legal (including environmental protection), said: “We’ve already got plenty to shout about when it comes to air quality in Allerdale and Cumbria more generally with our region enjoying some of the best rankings nationally.
“But it’s important not to rest on our laurels and to keep working hard to make sure the air we breathe remains as clean as possible for the health of our residents and the planet.”
Take part in Clean Air Day
There are a number of things people can do to get involved with the campaign, including sharing the key messages on social media, making their own Clean Air Day pledge and using the personal air pollution calculator to work out their own contribution to air pollution in UK.
All resources are available on the Clean Air Day (CAD) website (link below). To take part in Clean Air Day on social media, use the hashtag #CleanAirDay.
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