Breathe easy: Five ways to improve Arkansas’ air quality

No matter the temperature, Arkansans love the outdoors. But if we want to continue enjoying The Natural States’ lakes, mountains, parks and trails, protecting our air quality is top priority.

At Metroplan, our Ozone Action Days Program is dedicated to reducing ground-level ozone, which will improve our overall air quality. Defined as an unstable toxic gas that exists all around our atmosphere, ground-level ozone is created when pollutants mix with sunlight and remain close to the earth’s surface.

As the temperatures continue to rise, there are steps we can take to reduce our ground-level ozone output. Below are five ways you can help improve the air quality in your community.

Hit the trails.
We are lucky to have beautiful, convenient bike and pedestrian trails connecting neighborhoods across Central Arkansas. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing stroll or an action-packed mountain biking adventure, there’s something for everyone.

We are excited about our Regional Greenway Plan, which will connect even more of Central Arkansas. This will be a significant asset, providing more connected and accessible communities. Pedestrians and bike riders will have access to essential destinations and amenities while increasing their physical activity and enjoying our region’s natural beauty. Learn more at centralarkgreenways.com.

Too hot to walk? Take the bus or trolley.
Rock Region METRO now has five electric buses in its fleet. The battery electric buses will remove the last diesel buses in Rock Region Metro’s line from service, effectively achieving its ambitious goal of ending the use of diesel-fueled vehicles by the end of 2025.

For a nostalgic way to hop around the city, check out the fare-free METRO Streetcar, which operates throughout downtown Little Rock and Argenta. You can hop on the trolley to enjoy a game at Dickey-Stephens Park, a concert at Simmons Bank Arena or the Museum of Discovery.

The buses and trolleys are affordable and convenient, and you can even track them in real time using the free METROtrack app.

Drive clean.
As the first day of school quickly approaches, we recommend organizing a carpool with friends and family. Carpooling is not only an efficient way to commute, but it also has several environmental benefits. When multiple people share a ride, it reduces the number of vehicles on the road, which in turn reduces traffic congestion and decreases the emission of harmful pollutants. Another great tip: when you are in the school pick up line make sure you turn off your engine instead of idling. One minute of idling uses up more gas than restarting the engine.

Schedule your chores for the evening.
Did you know your gas-powered lawn mower is as much a part of our summertime air pollution problem as your gasoline-powered vehicle? In the summer, avoid yard work and refueling your car in the mornings and mid-day because the harmful pollutants have a longer time to linger and form dangerous ground-level ozone. Doing chores that involve gasoline in the evening allows less time for the chemicals to bake in the harsh summer sun.

Go green.
Homes and commercial buildings consume 40% of the energy used in the United States. Ensure your home or office is as efficient and clean as possible by using energy-efficient light bulbs, appliances and eco-friendly cleaning supplies that use less harsh chemicals. Another home improvement opportunity is to invest in a smart thermostat, high-efficiency laundry machine, refrigerator and other appliances, which can save you both power and cash. An added bonus – energy-efficient systems can be appealing to homebuyers and may help homes sell faster and increase resale value.

This summer, partner with us as we work together to improve the air quality in our region.

Editor’s note: Casey Covington is the executive director of Metroplan, is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for Central Arkansas. The opinions expressed are those of the author.