On April 27, IC Green and the Commuter Students Association co-sponsored a visit from a representative of Clean Air New York.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rated the New York metro area poorly because the area does not meet federal guidelines for ground-level ozone and particulate matter pollution. For this reason, Clean Air NY was developed and it is one of the activities that New York State has been endeavoring to help the area reach the standards.

Clean Air NY is sponsored by the New York State Department of Transportation, which is an organization that seeks to improve air quality. Clean Air NY focuses on the New York metro area such as Long Island, New York City and the lower Hudson Valley, which includes Westchester County. In order to enhance the efficiency of air improvement, Clean Air NY is also a network of individuals, employers, school campuses, communities and other organizations. Such combination has been contributing to the good of healthy and quality life in the region.

It is free and easy to be part of this organization, because it provides the information through handouts and presentations. It is a myth that Clean Air NY tells people to stop driving; it has been encouraging every New Yorker to make choices for alleviating the air pollution, such as sharing the ride, lessen idling and avoid topping off gas etc. When these smart travel choices become part of people’s daily routine, air pollution will be diminished.

Using public transportation every year saves the equivalent of 34 supertankers of oil, or a supertanker leaving the Middle East every 11 days. Leaving the car at home for only two days a week can reduce greenhouse gas by an average of 1,600 pounds per year. For every mile that individual drives, the vehicle releases approximately one pound of carbon dioxide. However, it takes a tree one month to turn one pound of carbon dioxide into oxygen.

The trees on Iona Campus are not sufficient enough to convert carbon dioxide, which is released by vehicles, into oxygen. For the sake of improving air quality, Clean Air NY highly advises students to drive less and to share ride if they can. By joining Clean Air NY, students can receive the updates of Air Quality Action Day forecast through emails or text messages to inform them about the air quality of the region.

Ozone, major urban smog that aggravates air pollution, comes to the highest level every September, which is the month that Clean Air NY sends out the most updates. Therefore, it encourages students to email each other or to display the associated flyer at their site in a public area. Other than Ozone, vehicles are one of the major pollutants in all year around.

Clean Air NY encourages Iona College to become one of the clean air campuses, but it has to be accomplished by students and faculty alike. Clean air campuses not only contribute to air quality improvement and the good of the environment, but also protect students’ health. There are multiple choices that Iona faculty and students can do for alleviating air pollution, which include organizing a Bike or Walk to Class Day, setting up special parking spaces for carpools, creating a bike-share program and distributing Air Quality Action Day Updates.

Iona College can help in creating a healthy lifestyle and learning environment for students, faculty and staff by joining the program of Clean Air Campuses. Being a clean air campus will receive recognition on the Clean Air NY Web site, assistance with on-campus events and public relations opportunities. IC Green Club will receive Air Quality Action Day updates from Clean Air NY and distribute the updates when Iona College become one of the clean air campuses.