Raising Air Awareness

By Amy Roberts

A chance conversation between a Fresno State employee and University President John Welty a few months ago concerning the Valley’s worsening air quality conditions spawned the idea behind Tuesday’s Air Quality Action Day Exposition and Forum at Fresno State.

“ This event is to raise awareness,” said Kathleen Curtis, co-chair of the air quality resource group at Fresno State and the employee who raised the issue with Welty. “And to help our campus community learn about existing programs and choices they can make to improve our region’s air quality.”

Hybrid cars parked on the grass in front of the Satellite Student Union were available for an up-close and personal inspection Tuesday, to show the ways air can be spared using new technology. Campus professors and members of community agencies explained a variety of other interactive exhibits to help people understand the reasons and possible solutions to air pollution.

Indoor displays included information on bus service, commuting by bicycles, carpooling, atmospheric chemistry, on-line learning options, new wood burning restrictions and health issues.

Speakers lined up to discuss telecommuting, changing lifestyles to improve air quality and commuter services available on- and off-campus.

The campus population of about 26,000, Curtis said, is a strong foundation to develop into a visible group, who might influence the community to consider ways to change habits that contribute to bad air quality.

“ Changing behaviors is a gradual process and that starts with raising awareness,” Curtis said.

Habits or behaviors that contribute to air pollution include burning wood in fireplaces and driving alone. According to Lynnette Zelezny, associate professor of psychology, the process of changing a habit can be hard especially if the person doesn’t believe that a change in behavior will make a difference.

Zelezny outlined a four-step process that helps people successfully change a habit. She said it’s imperative that all steps are present to facilitate behavioral changes.

People need to acknowledge not only that a problem exists, but that it’s an emergency situation, Zelezny said. In the case of air quality, most people think it’s a problem, but many may not think of it as an emergency. Zelezny said it’s easier for people to deny a problem is bad so they hesitate in changing their behavior.

People must also feel responsible and believe they possess the skills to make a difference.

The final step involves people getting feedback that what they are doing is worthy.

If any of these steps are missed, she said, then it’s unlikely that a new behavior will develop because the person didn’t get the support they needed to form the new habit.

But if all goes well, the new habit will usually become part of the person’s routine.

“ An important factor in the continuation of that new behavior is the perception that it’s a social norm,” added Zelezny, using the example of European populations thinking it’s normal to use public transportation to run errands or go to work.

Janis Parker is pushing to make people aware of new fireplace-burning restrictions as the marketing and education specialist for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

She passed out information on ozone and particulate matter at the exposition and explained new wood-burning restrictions.

Inspectors, she said, will be monitoring Valley communities for violations to the new rules. Based on the severity of the case, fines can be levied between $50 and $1,000. Fines will increase with multiple violations. She said the district expects there will be 20 to 25 days where burning is prohibited. She advises calling 1-800-SMOG-INFO (766-4463) before lighting a fire.

“ The district would like Valley residents to be aware of the amendments made to the rule so that they will comply and know when and when not to burn in their fireplaces,” Parker said.

Another area that people can help reduce air pollution is by changing their driving and commuting patterns. According to Annette Harvey in campus commuter services, many services are available to students, faculty and employees to buddy up on commutes. Another option is to ride a bike to school.

Harvey said she hopes everyone checks out www.rides.csufresno.edu, an interactive Web site that can computerize carpool match-ups with other people on similar schedules. Other proactive campus programs include renting a bike for a nominal fee each semester and the new ride-share program.

Harvey is looking into opening another parking lot for student carpools next semester since she has already passed out 103 permits for Lot E’s 90 rideshare stalls. Anyone parking in that lot between 6:30 and 10:30 a.m. must display the free permit that must be used in conjunction with the regular student permit. Faculty members also have a carpool program.

Nancy Ellis, 38, is a senior majoring in journalism and a concerned student who spoke about bike riding as an alternative form of transportation at Tuesday’s forum.

Ellis experienced an epiphany about cars while watching traffic at Shaw and Blackstone avenues last winter. Now she’s an avid bike rider who averages a 10-mile roundtrip ride between home and campus most days.

“ I see our Valley air pollution problem as a crisis and I am choosing to be a part of the solution instead of continuing to be part of the problem,” Ellis said.