Healthy Air Living at Home
Alternative Transportation
We all know cars are a big part of the air pollution problem. There are little things we can all do each day to reduce vehicle miles travels, thereby reduction air pollution. Every little bit helps, and it all adds up to cleaner air!
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is proud to offer several programs to help increase awareness, and the use, of alternative transportation. But we still need your help! Public participation in these programs is vital in order to reduce vehicle miles traveled and your suggestions, ideas, and feedback on new grant programs and ways to make our existing programs even better is essential to the success of these grant programs. So let’s all work together to make the air we breath cleaner for ourselves and the generations to come.
Calculators
Personal Emissions Calculator (Greenhouse Gases)
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html
"Pollution from Electricity Use" Calculator
http://www.cleanerandgreener.org/resources/pollutioncalculator.htm
Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator
http://www.drivinggreen.com/index.asp
Calculator Auto Emissions and Cost
Can you save money and the air?
http://enpalo.com/auto.php
Personal Travel Calculator (UK based)
http://www.travelcalculator.org
Tips & More
Local Transit Agencies & Council of Governments
Fresno County
Council of Government
Council of Fresno County Governments
Transit Agencies
CTS (City of Clovis Transit System, Stageline, Round Up)
FAX (Fresno Area Express)
FCRTA (Fresno County Rural Transit Agency)
CT (City of Coalinga Transit)
FAST (Fresno Area Sky Train)
Kern County
Council of Government
Kern Council of Governments
Transit Agencies
Dial-A-Ride (City of Arvin Transportation Service, ATS)
GET (Golden Empire Transit District)
KRT (Kern Regional Transit)
DT (City of Delano Transit)
RTS (City of Ridgecrest Transit System)
WDAR (City of Wasco Dial-a-Ride)
Kings County
Council of Government
Kings County Association of Governments
Transit Agencies
CAT (Corcoran Area Transit)
KART (Kings Area Rural Transit, Kings County Area Public Transit Agency)
Madera County
Council of Government
Madera County Transportation Commission
Transit Agencies
CATX (Chowchilla Area Transit Express)
MDAR (City of Madera Dial-a-Ride)
MCPT (Madera County Public Transportation)
Merced County
Council of Government
Merced County Association of Governments
Transit Agencies
The Bus (City of Los Banos Bus Services)
LBCS (Los Banos Commuter Services
The Bus (Merced County Transit, MCT)
YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System)
PDAR (City of Newman Dial-a-Ride)
San Joaquin County
Council of Government
San Joaquin Council of Governments
Transit Agencies
EDAR (Escalon Dial-a-Ride)
Escalon Transit Services (City of Escalon)
Grapeline (City of Lodi Transit Division, Dial-a-Ride)
SMART (San Joaquin Regional Transit District)
RTBS (City of Ripon Transit Bus Service)
ACE (Altamont Commuter Express, San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission)
SMART (San Joaquin Regional Transit District)
Tracer (City of Tracy)
Stanislaus County
Council of Government
Stanislaus Council of Governments
Transit Agencies
CAT (Ceres Area Transit, Dial-a-Ride)
MAX (Modesto Area Express)
START (Stanislaus Regional Transit)
PDAR (City of Newman Dial-a-Ride)
PDAR (City of Patterson Dial-a-Ride)
ROTA (Riverbank-Oakdale Transit Authority)
BLAST (Turlock Transit Lines, Bus Line Service of Turlock, Dial-a-Ride of Turlock)
WDAR (City of Waterford Dial-a-Ride)
Tulare County
Council of Government
Tulare County Association of Governments
Transit Agencies
TTE (City of Tulare Transit Express)
TCT (Tulare County Transit)
VCC (Visalia City Coach, Visalia Towne Trolley)
Community Clean Air Fund
What is the Program?
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) wants to partner with you to reduce air pollution. Protecting our home and the air we breathe is the job of every valley resident and business and we need your help. You can make voluntary donations to fund projects that will improve Valley air quality and offset the pollution we all cause in our daily lives.
Why is the SJVAPCD Asking For Your Help?
The District has lobbied, applied for grants, imposed fees, levied fines, implemented almost 200 rules, sets strict permit requirements for businesses, worked with industry and governmental groups, and found that more help is needed. We need your help to obtain funds to incentivize activities that reduce air pollution in our valley.
How Do I Know Where My Money is Spent?
- The District will make a quarterly report that shows the total funds received, number and type of projects funded, cost-effectiveness (dollars spent per ton of pollution reduced), and other pertinent information available to the public, upon request.
- The public may also submit a public information request at any time to obtain any of the information specified above.
What Projects Will Be Funded?
- The funds will be used toward projects in the existing District Heavy-Duty Incentive and REMOVE programs that may not otherwise be funded.
- Projects are funded on a first-come-first serve basis; in the event multiple projects are received on the same day the most cost-effective project will be funded.
How Can I Donate?
The District is currently working with a Valley regional foundation to set up a system whereby all donations to the Community Clean Air Fund will be tax deductible. Furthermore, the District plans for you or your organization to be able to select the types of air quality improvements you want to help fund. The District hopes to finalize the specifics of the donation process in the next few months. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact District staff at (559) 230-5800 or at WEBERIP@valleyair.org.
Saving Energy
Saving energy does more than save money; it is also a healthy air choice. Enhancing energy efficiency at home is a great example of a win-win that provides a direct benefit to you in addition to helping clean the air. Everyday, the energy we use must be generated, and most of that is from sources that contribute to air pollution. There are many ways to save energy at home and, once implemented, don’t require any extra effort, such as installing energy efficient lighting and appliances. The important thing is to remember that when it comes time to make a decision that can affect air quality, making a healthy air choice can benefit you in more ways than one.
To see the pollution that can be attributed to your home energy use or total energy use, check out these online calculators.
- Cleaner and Greener “Pollution from Electricity Use” Calculator
(http://www.cleanerandgreener.org/resources/pollutioncalculator.htm) - Cool California “Carbon Calculator”
(http://www.coolcalifornia.org/calculator.html)
Some of the many healthy air choices for you to consider at home are:
Perform an Energy Audit
Performing your own or having a professional perform a home energy audit is a great first step in improving the energy efficiency of your home. Through the home energy audit process you’ll learn what steps you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your home and identify what steps are the best to take first.
Many utilities and agencies are available to assist you in finding a professional home energy auditor or providing you with details on how to perform a do-it-yourself home energy audit. You can find more information at the following links, or check with your utility.
- US Department of Energy
(http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11160) - Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(http://www.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/analyzer/index.shtml) - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
(http://hes.lbl.gov/)
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are a very good early choice to make your home more energy efficient. CFLs use about 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs for the same amount of light, and they last 10 times as long. Replacing the incandescent bulbs in your home today with CFLs can make a long term difference on your home’s energy consumption.
Please be sure to dispose of CFLs at a household hazardous waste collection event. CFLs contain mercury or lead (I’m checking) which is harmful to the environment if disposed of in your curbside pickup or a landfill.
Information about CFLs and rebate programs to help you put them to use in your home can be found from these pages among others:
- EnergyStar
(http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls) - Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(http://www.pge-cfl.com/) - Southern California Edison
(http://www.sce.com/RebatesandSavings/Residential/_Lighting/ENERGYSTARLighting/)
Home Solar Power
Producing your own electricity from a renewable source is a great way to reduce the air pollution you cause, but it can also lower your monthly energy bills. In the San Joaquin Valley sunlight is an abundant resource and provides a great renewable source of electricity you can have installed at home.
There are many good sources of information on solar power for your home, and your electric utility is a great place to start for information. More information may be found at the following locations:
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(http://www.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/solarenergy/) - Southern California Edison
(http://www.sce.com/Feature/Archive/200701d_howitworkssolar.htm)
Landscaping
An act as simple as selecting the right landscaping can improve the energy efficiency of your home. Trees and other plants can be used to shade your home and reduce energy used for cooling. Landscaping can provide a windbreak saving wintertime heating costs. Landscaping that conserves water also conserves energy.
Find out more from:
- Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Website
(http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/landscaping/index.cfm/mytopic=11910)
Energy Efficient Water Heater
From tankless on-demand water heaters to high efficiency conventional water heaters there are many options to conserve energy on your water heater. Find out more information at these web sites:
- US Department of Energy
(http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12770) - Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(http://www.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/rebates/appliance/waterheater/index.shtml) - Southern California Edison
(http://www.sce.com/_Tips/Residential/Appliances/HotWaterHeaters/)
Purchase Healthy Air Living Apparel
We have opened a Healthy Air Living store online through Café Press where you can purchase Healthy Air Living casual attire. Our online store location is http://www.cafepress.com/Halstuff. The Valley Air District is making no money off of your purchase, we merely provide this as an option for purchasing Healthy Air Living branded apparel.


