Use these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to learn all about the Spare The Air program, how to reduce air pollution, and how you can check the air quality before playing outside.
Q: WHAT IS SPARE THE AIR?
A: Spare The Air is a public outreach program, developed to help improve the Sacramento region’s air quality by educating people about how they can help reduce smog. The Sacramento region’s Spare The Air program was started in 1995 by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, in partnership with the air districts of the Sacramento region, to encourage people to reduce their driving on smoggy days. Spare The Air runs during the summer ozone season, which goes from May 1 to October 31. For more information about Spare The Air, please visit SpareTheAir.com.
Q: WHAT HAPPENS ON A SPARE THE AIR DAY?
A: A Spare The Air day is called when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to reach 126 or above, which is in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category. Children, older adults, pregnant women and those with heart or lung problems and illnesses, should be aware of their health on Spare The Air days.
Everyone should take action to improve air quality on Spare The Air days. The best thing to do is reduce the number of car trips you take. Each time you start the engine is a “trip” so cut back where you can. For more Spare The Air tips, please visit: Spare The Air – Take Action.
Q: WHO IS SCOOTER, THE SPARE THE AIR MASCOT?
A: Scooter is a big, fluffy dog that loves to attend community events, wag his tail and teach people how to help Spare The Air! He loves dancing and making new friends. Scooter was named by Kennedy Kell of Sacramento when she was 10 years old. Kennedy explained that she chose the name Scooter “because riding a scooter uses less gas than driving a car.”
Make sure to follow Scooter on Facebook and on Instagram to stay connected with your furry pal!
Q: HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT AIR POLLUTION?
A: It’s easy! Check out our All About Air Pollution page to learn about the most common types of air pollution, the negative health impacts they cause, and what you can do to help reduce air pollution.
Q: HOW DO I KNOW WHEN AIR QUALITY IS POOR?
A: There are several ways to find out when the air quality is poor in the Sacramento region:
- Visit SpareTheAir.com to check current conditions.
- Sign up for Air Alerts, a free email service that sends you the daily air quality forecast and other air pollution conditions.
- Call the daily air quality forecast line at (279) 207-1122.