Tools and Information
Air Quality Toolkit for Local Governments
Simple Steps. Better Air.
Unlike the good, protective ozone layer in the stratosphere, ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant that affects all of us. The Simple Steps. Better Air (SSBA). summer ozone education and outreach program is designed to increase public understanding and awareness of the causes and solutions for ozone pollution, with the goal of getting the region’s residents to change ozone-causing behaviors.
www.simplestepsbetterair.org
Clean Air Fleets
The Clean Air Fleets program provides information about and funding for simple diesel retrofit technologies, global positioning systems (GPS) and alternatively fueled vehicles — including compressed natural gas (CNG), electric vehicles, and electric vehicle supply equipment — to reduce emissions in public and private fleets. The Clean Air Fleets website provides the latest program information, as well as resources on emissions control, idling reduction technology, alternative fuels, electric vehicles, engine and fuel standards, advances in diesel engines, and more.
www.cleanairfleets.org
Mow Down Pollution – Residential
The RAQC’s residentially focused lawn and garden exchange program helps area residents recycle their old gasoline mowers in favor of electric alternatives. Typically, three exchange events are hosted across the Denver Metro/North Front Range in the spring and pre-registration is required. Information on manufacturer offerings, pricing, event location, etc. will be posted to the website link below once they become available. Interested residents can also complete the future interest form and receive email notification when program details become available.
www.mowdownpollution.org
Mow Down Pollution – Public Entity Grant
The RAQC’s Public Entity Grant is a lawn and garden exchange program that helps public entities recycle their old gasoline mowers in favor of electric alternatives. Information on the grant can be found on our website.
www.mowdownpollution.org/grant
Street Sanding Program
In conjunction with local and state street maintenance departments, the RAQC developed a street sanding program, which has achieved a weighted average region-wide emissions reduction of approximately 58% and has allowed us to comply with the PM 10 federal standard since 1993. Our goal now is to help local governments maintain current street sanding practices in the face of increasing vehicle traffic and significant budget constraints in some jurisdictions.
Street Sanding Program
State Implementation Plans
The RAQC is tasked with helping to develop state implementation plans (SIPs) for the Denver area to comply with federal air quality standards. When the Denver metropolitan region fails to meet these standards, the RAQC and its partners pull together in a series of stakeholder meetings to determine what measures will be included in the SIP for that pollutant.
State Implementation Plans
Land Use Planning And Air Quality Analysis
The RAQC has several tools available to assist local planners in incorporating the analysis of air quality with respect to proposed developments:
Mixed-Use Development—Trip Generation/Air Quality Analysis Spreadsheet Tool
This spreadsheet-based tool allows planners to quickly and easily analyze the trips generated by mixed-use developments.
Checklist for Air Quality
This checklist ensures that pedestrian, bicycle, and transit connections are being made and preserved through the site planning process. The checklist also provides reminders to ensure a mix of land uses to encourage non-motorized travel.
Resource Library
Check out the Local Government Resource Library for programs and policies that help communities improve air quality.