While lawmakers and regulators play a big role in legislating and enforcing air quality standards in the Denver area, citizens and business owners can make a large impact by the choices they make every day.
Alternative Transportation:
Because mobile sources of pollution such as cars and trucks make up such a large percentage of air pollution, citizens can make the biggest impact in this area. Using alternative transportation such as the bus or lightrail, carpooling, bicycling or walking can reduce the load of pollutants emitted from cars and trucks. Businesses can also help by encouraging employees to use alternative transportation or carpool.
Telecommuting/Flex-schedule:
Business owners can also help by allowing employees to telecommute or flex-schedule which can reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled, and therefore vehicular air pollution. This idea has been gaining in popularity over the last decade, and should continue to be encouraged by employers.
Energy Use:
Energy used to light and heat our homes, run our appliances, and power our cars and trucks all comes at an environmental cost. The more energy we use, the more pollution we cause. Cutting down on our consumption of energy will go a long way toward reducing air pollution. More fuel-efficient vehicles, better insulation, and energy efficient windows and lighting are just a few of the ways to reduce energy use.
Wood Burning/Open Burning:
Complying with Denver’s laws regulating wood burning and open burning will continue to keep this source of air pollution in check.
Special Note For New businesses:
Specific types of new businesses in Denver including manufacturing, processing or fabrication facilities, automobile recycling facilities, incinerators/ crematoriums, some types of painting operations, print shops, chrome plating operations, food manufacturing, and asphalt/concrete plants must go through the Environmental Review process. In this process, the Environmental Review Committee evaluates the new business’ plan for environmental effects. New businesses should contact the Zoning Department to start the permit process.