Dear “Listserv Members,”

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has declared April 30th * May 4th Air Quality Awareness Week 2012 (http://www.nj.gov/dep/aqaweek/).  This week emphasizes that you can protect your health, as well as the health of others, by paying attention to local air quality and moving toward living a healthier lifestyle, while still enjoying outdoor activities and saving some money, all at the same time!

By making simple changes to your everyday routine, such as burning only dry well-seasoned wood, keeping your vehicle’s maintenance up-to-date, combining automobile trips, using environmentally friendly cleaning products, conserving energy, such as turning off the lights and maintaining your vehicle, you can reduce air pollution, lessen your impact on the environment, and likely save money in the process. 

NJDEP DAILY MESSAGES
Each day of New Jersey’s Air Quality Awareness Week 2012 focuses on an air pollutant, associated example sources of the pollutant, and associated control measures and recent actions taken by New Jersey to control the pollutant.  The week also highlights how even our daily routine can impact our environment.  As a follow-up, there are tips and suggestions for creating and maintaining a sustainable lifestyle within your community that will simultaneously reduce greenhouse gases, criteria air pollutants, and air toxics.  All of the week’s themes, facts, and actions can be found at http://www.nj.gov/dep/aqaweek/.  This site also highlights area or local events scheduled during and around Air Quality Awareness Week. 

USEPA AND NOAA WEBSITES
New Jersey’s efforts coincide with a National initiative by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  The federal agencies’ themes and facts can be found at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/airaware/.  Follow this effort on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/airnow) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/airnow).

CHECK YOUR AIR QUALITY ANY DAY
Remember to check your local air quality on the NJDEP’s Air Monitoring website (http://www.njaqinow.net/) or by subscribing to EnviroFlash, (www.enviroflash.info), an online alert system, to receive critical air quality information straight to your email inbox or cell phone.

USEPA’s new mobile application, AIRNow (http://m.epa.gov/apps/airnow.html), provides real-time location-specific air quality information that you can use to protect your health when planning your day.

Please, forward this email to anyone who would be interested. Thank you.