# Presentation: 336168

## Clear the Air for Kids!

- February 12, 2007
- 2007 National Air Quality Conference

## Clear the Air for Kids!

-   Educational outreach for school districts
-   Encouraging enforcement of anti-idling
-      policies
-   Assistance with grant applications
-   Encourage expanding idle-reduction to
-      broader population

## Who is involved with CAK?

## 
SEQL helps communities in the 15-county 
Charlotte metro region work together to find solutions.

**SEQL helps communities in the 15-county **
**Charlotte metro region work together to find solutions.**

## Bus emissions are a regional issue: 

-  11 NC counties in the 	SEQL region
-  15 school districts – 490 	schools
-  285 elementary 	schools
-  101 middle schools
-  94 high schools
-  10 special schools

## Bus stats:

-   2,707 yellow buses in region
-   281 activity buses in region

## How are we getting the word out.....

-  Developed a relationship with school  	transportation directors
-  Provided information packets on CAK to all 	superintendents, transportation directors 	and public information officers
-  Encouraged used of CAK video on government 	channels and education channels

## Getting the word out....

-  Started in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools – largest 	system in the region
-  Carolinas Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) volunteers – tried 	contacting individual schools to set up a meeting 	with PTA President
-  Process did not work – too labor intensive
-  CCAC decided to concentrate on 25 schools with the 	highest asthma population

## Getting the word out....

-  Centralina focused attention 	on the other 10 counties 	and begin requesting 	time on the agenda of 	district principals 	meetings
-  In 10-15 minutes you reach  	all the principals with 	the same information

- Clear the Air for Kids!
- Carolinas Clean Air Coalition
- Sustainable Environment for Quality of Life (SEQL)

## Getting the word out....

- Packets are distributed to elementary principals with
**Turn off your engine card for each parent  **
**Bookmarks for third graders**
**Information for school newsletters**
**CD with background information on emission and       children’s health**
**SEQL information**
**EPA materials on school bus emissions**
** **
**	**

## CAK campaign was kicked off on October 24, 2006 with EPA Region 4 Administrator Jimmy Palmer and NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Bill Ross attending

## Handout for parents....

**Why is idling of vehicles a problem?**
- Vehicle exhaust is hazardous to human health, especially children. Studies have linked pollution from vehicles to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease, asthma and allergies.
- Idling wastes resources and damages the environment. Burning fuel needlessly costs you money and contributes to air pollution problems.
**Encourage idle reduction of school buses.**
**Turn off your car when waiting for your children in the carpool lines.**
**Stop using the drive thru.**

##  Bookmarks for third graders – 10 Things Kids Can Do

-  Bookmarks for third graders – 10 Things Kids Can Do
-  Companion piece to our – 100 ways you can improve the environment

## 100 ways you can improve the environment

**100 ways you can improve the environment**

- Simple ways you can make a difference

## Grant from NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources is providing three signs for each school in the 11 NC SEQL counties

## Results....

- All 15 school districts have   anti-idling policies in place for buses

## Results...

** ****625 yellow buses have been retrofitted**
** ****Funding provided by **
** ****EPA Clean School Bus Grants**
** ****NC DENR Mobile Source **
**	****Emissions Grants**
** ****CMS district has **
** ****40 buses with DPFs **
**	****using ULSD**
** ****8 natural gas buses**
** ****Rowan-Salisbury district **
**     ****has 23 buses with **
**     ****recirc devices**

## Gaston County Schools producing biodiesel from used cooking oil – goal to produce 100,000 gallons this yearCabarrus County Schools setting up biodiesel production process

**Results.....**

## Results...

** ****By March 2007 Clear the Air for Kids! packets will**
**      ****be in the hands of 490 principals**
** ****This represents 330,779 students and their **
**      ****parents **
** ****And 26,688 third graders who will have the 10 **
**      ****Things Kids Can Do bookmarks**

## Slide 20

## For additional information contact:

**Carol Lewis**
**Sustainable Environment for Quality of Life**
**P.O. Box 35008**
**Charlotte, NC  28235**
**Phone: 704-348-2730  Fax: 704-347-4710**
**clewis@centralina.org**