Author: Julie Hauser

Before we know it, the biggest holiday shopping weekend of the year will be here in the blink of an eye. Between Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, the anticipation continues to build as deals are revealed through TV commercials, print ads and social media, all inspiring consumers to fill their carts and to take advantage of unbeatably low prices on the items on everyone’s wish lists. Despite the excitement of holiday bargain shopping, it is important to be aware of the negative impact your purchases may have on air quality and the environment, and to be open to greener alternatives.

Environmentally friendly behavior starts with buying decisions. Whatever your shopping plans entail, there are numerous ways to step up to do your share for cleaner air and reduce your carbon footprint while grabbing the great deals:

• Bring reusable shopping bags – Holiday shopping is great fun but also a huge producer of plastic shopping bags. Consider keeping reusable bags in your car so they’re always available and you don’t have to worry about forgetting them at home. By using a reusable bag, you’re not only reducing the amount of non-renewable resources necessary to produce plastic bags, but also helping to clean the air by cutting down on the thousands of bags that end up in landfills.
• Shop locally – Whether you’re heading to the mall for Black Friday or a local family-owned shop for Small Business Saturday, the less you have to drive, the better for the environment. Every gallon of gas saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and not driving store-to-store will help to reduce harmful emissions that lead to poor air quality. Also, if you’re planning to host a festive holiday dinner this year, consider shopping for sustainable produce from your local farmers. Not only does local, organic food taste better, but you’ll also be doing your part for the community and the planet.
• Shop smarter online – For those who want to get the goods but avoid the lines, Cyber Monday offers all the benefits of Black Friday shopping, but from the comfort and convenience of your home. Opt for a stress-free shopping experience this year to reduce environmental impact and improve air quality. Online shopping is an increasingly popular option, as U.S. shoppers spent a record $126 billion on online shopping during the holiday season last year. It’s also considered by many to be a greener alternative as goods are often stored in and shipped from one central location, reducing fuel consumption from large transport trucks. To further reduce excess packaging, try consolidating all of your online orders to one store!
• Look for environmentally friendly products – When making your purchases, especially big-ticket items, try to find the best green alternatives. Look for electronics and appliances that use less energy by checking for the ENERGY STAR® mark. ENERGY STAR certified products use less energy than standard models, ultimately saving you money on your utility bill while helping to protect the environment and clear the air. You can also make sustainable decisions about your purchases by choosing products made from eco-friendly materials, such as organic cotton or recycled plastic. And remember, giving the gift of your time or a shared experience may be among the greenest options of all.

A few small changes are all it takes to help people all across the St. Louis region breathe easier this holiday season. To learn more, visit the tips section of our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair.

It seems only fitting that the sole nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting recycling in the United States falls in between Halloween and Thanksgiving, two holidays known for creating an excess amount of waste and having an adverse impact on the environment. Each year on November 15, millions of people across the United States take part in America Recycles Day, a day which was created to raise awareness about recycling and the purchasing of recycled products. Though the national recycling rate has increased over the past 30 years to 34% of all waste disposal being recycled, there is still much work to be done.

Created by the National Recycling Coalition in 1997 as a way to educate people about the importance of recycling for both the environment and the economy, America Recycles Day has grown into a nationwide phenomenon. On this day, thousands of events are held in cities across the United States to call attention to the importance of recycling and encourage individuals to sign the pledge, confirming a commitment to recycling and buying products made from recycled materials, with the hope that occasional recyclers will make it an everyday habit.

Luckily, there are countless ways for residents right here in the St. Louis region to take action in the fight for cleaner air by committing to reduce, reuse and recycle on America Recycles Day and in all aspects of daily life. In the general consumption of goods, we oftentimes ignore the fact that a major portion of our waste can be reduced or reused before resorting to recycling. Avoiding disposable items such as paper plates, cups, and utensils is a step in the right direction for cleaner air, as well as bringing your own reusable tote bags to the store to purchase groceries.

When presenting gifts during the next wave of holidays that are just around the corner, consider gifting experiences instead of things. And when you are gifting a physical item, consider opting for newspapers, old posters or reusable gift bags instead of wrapping paper. If you choose to buy gift wrap, look for recycled content gift wrap paper whenever you can find it.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 60% of the waste that ends up in trash bins can be recycled. While cardboard, paper, food boxes, mail, beverage cans, plastic bottles and caps are among the most common items that you can put into the curbside recycling bin, what you can recycle depends on the recycling company serving your area. Be sure to check with your local recycling center to find out what you can and cannot recycle and make sure that you have the correct disposal containers available to ensure your efforts are being put to good use and heading to the recycling center, rather than the landfill you’re working so hard to avoid.

You can do your share for cleaner air and live a recycled lifestyle by taking the #BeRecycled pledge at www.americarecyclesday.org. The more material that gets properly recycled, the less that goes into landfills, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions for cleaner air. For more great tips on how to achieve cleaner air year-round, visit our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair.

As the Clean Air Partnership works to inspire area residents and businesses to take voluntary steps to help clear the air, we continue to recognize the ongoing efforts and initiatives of participants in the 2018 St. Louis Green Business Challenge (GBC). These organizations are committed to cleaning our region’s air and achieving their goals while keeping a focus on sustainability. This month, we are shining a spotlight on Forest Park Forever and World Wide Technology. Both organizations worked hard to achieve the Leader Level Award of Merit and Achievement Award in the Star Circle of Excellence in last year’s challenge and continue to make clean air a priority throughout their business practices.

A private nonprofit conservancy, Forest Park Forever has spent the past 33 years partnering with the City of St. Louis and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry to restore, maintain and sustain Forest Park. In doing so, they have raised $100 million to restore several landmarks such as the Emerson Grand Basin, the Boathouse and the Jewel Box. Along with the preservation of the park, they also provide information and guides for its 13 million annual visitors, as well as an array of educational opportunities for all ages.

With the help of student volunteers, the nonprofit has successfully been able to catalog and track the park’s 273 organisms and also expand its conservation efforts. And, when it comes to their commitment to clean air, Forest Park Forever has led additional efforts throughout the past year, including a plan to introduce their first electric utility vehicle to reduce the park’s carbon footprint.

Since its founding in 1990, World Wide Technology has become a leader in the technology industry, generating more than $11 billion in annual revenue. With its global headquarters located right here in St. Louis, the company is a proud fourth-year participant in the GBC.

In 2018, World Wide Technology made giant strides in its sustainability efforts. Among these are the MoDOT Adopt-A-Highway Area Beautification Program, the Electronic Waste Drive and the Collection and Recycling of Plastic Lids & Caps for the Buddy Bench Program. The company has also implemented several programs and green business practices, such as a composting program and a water bottle refilling station, which has eliminated approximately 382,470 plastic water bottles from the company’s waste since they were installed! By the end of last year, the company resolved to replace most, if not all, non-recyclable paper cups.

To learn more about the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair. For more information on the ongoing sustainable efforts by Forest Park Forever and World Wide Technology, and how your company can get involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, visit http://stlouisgreenchallenge.com.

The spookiest time of the year is nearly here, but the real fright-fest of Halloween aren’t the ghouls and goblins, but rather its negative impact on the environment. According to a recent study by the National Retail Foundation, Americans are spending a scary amount of money on the fan-favorite holiday, with an estimated $8.8 billion expected to spirit away from consumers’ bank accounts this year alone.

Whether you’re deciding on costumes, buying candy, zipping between costume parties or hosting your own, there are a variety of ways to make your Halloween celebrations a little less frightening for the environment and to continue applying these strategies to the way you live every day. Here are some helpful tips to consider for turning your Halloween into “Hallow-green.”

• DIY Costumes – You’ll want to avoid buying store-bought costumes that are often made up of nonrecyclable, petro-chemical based plastic and synthetic fibers that release harmful toxins in their creation and breakdown. With a little creativity, boxes, paper bags, plastic water bottles and items around the house can be upcycled into costumes at little or no cost. If you’re looking for inspiration, be sure to check out Pinterest for countless ideas for turning different materials into homemade costumes. Going for a greener option this Halloween will ultimately help to improve the air quality.
• Host a Green Halloween Party – Consider sending out electronic invites to your Spooktacular event instead of paper to help keep the air clean by saving time, postage and trees. When shopping for supplies, look for recyclable or compostable plates, cups and utensils rather than the kind that end up in the trash, and put out recycling bins for any bottles and cans. Take your party to the next level by turning out the lights and lighting some candles – it’ll save energy and add to the spooky atmosphere!
• Green Up Your Halloween Pumpkins – Don’t let your jack-o’-lantern end up in a landfill once Halloween is over. Remember to compost your pumpkins to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions that result from rotting in landfills. Once you’ve carved your pumpkin, save the pulp from inside for pies, muffins, soup and other tasty recipes, as well as the seeds that make for a great fall snack when roasted with a little oil and salt!
• Hit the Streets for Trick or Treat – Rather than drive to other neighborhoods to take the kids trick-or-treating, stick close to home this Halloween and walk from house to house to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution. If traveling by car is really the only way to join in the Halloween fun with your family or friends, try carpooling to do your share for cleaner air.

Do your part by making sustainable choices this Halloween and continue to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle to help people all across St. Louis breathe easier every day, not just on special occasions. To learn more about the link between living greener and our air quality, visit the tips section of our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair.

With fall in full swing and the threat of a Red or Orange air quality day behind us for a while, the importance of taking action to help keep the air clean may not be top of mind. But we think it should be something people focus on year-round. With that in mind, we’re continuing to recognize businesses and organizations that have gone to measurable lengths to engage employees in voluntary measures to reduce environmental impact through their participation in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge (GBC). This month, we shine a spotlight on St. Louis College of Pharmacy and COCA for their sustainable innovations and efforts to make environmentally conscious practices a focal point in their communities and help clean our air in the process.

St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) has been preparing students for expert practice and leadership in pharmacy and health professions careers for over 150 years. As current and future health professionals, faculty and students at STLCOP know the importance of healthy living and how environmental practices directly relate. Thus, the group has been an active participant in the GBC and received the Achievement Award in the Star Circle of Excellence and an Award of Merit at the Leader Level in 2018.

STLCOP students created an organization – Sustainable STLCOP – that leads the campus in green initiatives. Sustainable STLCOP successfully held one large paper-recycling event on campus and continues to work towards raising their paper recycling efforts each month. Another notable initiative at STLCOP includes new copier programming aimed at reducing on-campus printing by 22 percent. The College has also seen a nearly 40% reduction in off-site printing costs since the implementation of the programming on July 1, 2018, showing that greener choices can be as good for the balance sheet as they are for the environment.

To raise awareness for these initiatives, STLCOP has created their own Green Team to engage students, faculty, staff and alumni in creating a sustainably-minded campus community that focuses on environmentally friendly living in their day-to-day lives.

Another GBC finalist in the “Leader” track is COCA, a nonprofit whose arts-based events, training, and programming encourages people to see, think and express themselves in new ways. As the fourth largest multidisciplinary community arts center in the country, the organization annually serves more than 50,000 people of all ages, backgrounds and ability levels.

COCA is committed to doing its part to make St. Louis a great place to work and live, which means caring for the environment for future generations. The nonprofit has taken many steps to preserve energy, recycle, reduce waste, and go green, striving to continually take action to reduce their eco-footprint and remain attentive and thoughtful about how they use their space in an environmentally responsible way.

As part of recent renovations, COCA converted nearly 200 lights from incandescent to LED. Now, approximately 47% of all COCA’s interior light fixtures are LED. During the renovation, all appliances in COCA’s kitchen were replaced with new ENERGY STAR high efficiency models, and its kitchen and hospitality stations have been equipped with reusable dishware and utensils to discourage the use of disposable versions of these items. In effort to help improve indoor air quality, air purifying plants were also added in communal spaces, including meeting rooms, lobbies and offices!

To learn more about the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair. For additional information on the sustainable efforts underway by St. Louis College of Pharmacy and COCA, as well as how your company can get involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, visit http://stlouisgreenchallenge.com/.

Now that cooler fall temperatures have made their way to the region, you may be faced with the temptation to idle your vehicle more than usual, particularly with the kids settled back in school and part of your day spent back in the carpool line. While it may seem impossible for drivers to avoid this altogether, vehicle idling by buses, students, parents, teachers, staff and delivery vehicles creates unnecessary pollution at schools. It’s especially important to remember to “turn the key” and “be idle-free” at schools because children are more susceptible to air pollution as their lungs are still developing, making them more vulnerable to the impacts of vehicle pollution than other populations.

Each year, idling engines produce thousands of tons of toxic pollution, including air toxins which are known to cause cancer, respiratory and reproductive effects, birth defects and various other health concerns. Exposure to car exhaust can also aggravate asthma symptoms. With asthma ranking as the most common chronic illness among children and the cause of most school absences, vehicle idling poses a serious threat to young lungs everywhere.

You might also be surprised to learn that:

• Idling for longer than 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting your engine.
• Two minutes of idling uses that same amount of fuel as driving one mile.
• Most people waste as much as 1-2 tanks of gas every year by idling.
• Idling vehicles emit 20 times more pollution than a car traveling at 30 mph.
• Every gallon of gas wasted produces over 20 pounds of air pollution.
• Many buildings have fresh air intake systems to pull outdoor air into the indoor environment. If vehicles are idling alongside or near the building, indoor air can become polluted with exhaust.

In an effort to curb the amount of vehicle idling in the St. Louis metropolitan region, the Clean Air Partnership has created a campaign designed to help encourage area businesses, schools, governmental entities and other organizations to implement no-idling policies and post no-idling signs, demonstrating their commitment to helping our community be idle-free.

If you represent a business, government entity, school or other organization, consider engaging your constituents in making the pledge to “Turn Your Key and Be Idle-Free” by placing no-idling signs in your parking lots, near bus and carpool lanes, passenger drop-off lanes, delivery areas or any other location where idling is an issue. By working together, we can help eliminate unnecessary idling in the St. Louis area and help the region breathe easier!

To request a no-idling sign, contact Susannah Fuchs of the Clean Air Partnership at 314-449-9149, or via email at [email protected]. For more information on other anti-idling initiatives and additional steps you can take to help improve air quality, visit our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @gatewaycleanair.

The Clean Air Partnership has spent the summer recognizing the efforts and initiatives of local entities that captured the highest total points in the “Champion” track of the St. Louis Green Business Challenge (GBC) this past year. This fall, we are turning our attention to those who scored highest in the GBC’s “Leaders” track, by kicking off our spotlight series with a feature on Tarlton Corporation for their many sustainable innovations and dedication to making the region a better place to live, work and play.

Tarlton Corporation is a St. Louis-based general contracting and construction management firm committed to building futures for their clients, team and community. Since 1946, the firm has completed numerous landmark projects in and around the area, continuing to improve its sustainability efforts by always looking for new ways to be green in all their business operations.

Tarlton is a proud participant of the GBC, along with other organizations that promote sustainable construction and business operations in the region. In 2018, the company received the Achievement Award in the Star Circle of Excellence and an Award of Merit at the Leader Level. To achieve this award, businesses must advance their sustainability efforts and finish the challenge with a leading score.

Multiple accomplishments in sustainability helped Tarlton Corporation place high in the Challenge. Their office building is especially eco-friendly with a rooftop solar array, water bottle filling stations, landscaping with native plants and rain cisterns to collect water. The company also executed a change out of all light fixtures to either LEDs or CFLs, helping to reduce energy usage by almost 40%. In addition, Tarlton has completed more than a dozen Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified projects.

To lead the corporation in sustainability initiatives, Tarlton has a Green Team, which is a committee dedicated to helping find ways to be environmentally conscious and responsible at work and home. They encourage the staff to help at regional green events and host Lunch ‘n Learns that educate employees on how to be energy efficient outside of the workplace.

Furthermore, the company installed a “Make a Difference” board, which is a central hub of information about all Tarlton’s green initiatives, with bins for collecting items like plastic bottle lids, can tabs, rechargeable batteries and box tops for education. The board has a calendar of all upcoming green events and photos of what they have taken part in. Employees at Tarlton also implemented a Grocery Bag Exchange Program, where team members receive a reusable bag for every 50 plastic bags they turn in. In total, the team has collected over 5,000 plastic bags!

To learn more about the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair. For additional information on the sustainable efforts underway by Tarlton Corporation and how your company can get involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, visit http://stlouisgreenchallenge.com/.

Car Free Day is right around the corner, and people all around the world are preparing to ditch their keys for the day to help reduce traffic congestion and work towards creating a greener environment. Today, with over one billion motor vehicles on the roads around the globe, it sometimes seems as if we cannot escape the pollution, noise and danger that they produce.

Every year on September 22, Car Free Day aims to take the heat off the planet by encouraging people to be less dependent on their cars and try alternatives such as walking, biking, carpooling or utilizing public transit. Although Car Free Day is only a single day out of the year, the goal of the celebrations is to have a lasting effect by inspiring individuals and communities to live more sustainably. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to help members of the St. Louis community leave the car keys at home and continue to take voluntary steps that can improve the quality of the air we breathe.

• Metro Transit – The region’s public transit system is designed to eliminate the use of multiple vehicles on the road and offer great alternatives for the work commute or an option to hopping in your car for short trips. Serving St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Clair County, Ill., Metro Transit allows riders to walk to a nearby stop, or park and take a train or bus, or a combination of the two, to get where they’re going – safely, comfortably and conveniently. Those who live in Madison County, Illinois will find Madison County Transit to be a great alternative.
• Ridesharing – With transportation-related emissions being one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, RideFinders offers a path to reduce those emissions by providing a free carpool and vanpool ride matching service for commuters to help improve the overall quality of the air. By sharing a ride instead of driving alone, commuters can save money and have a more relaxing trip. Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft match drivers of private vehicles to those seeking transportation and are also a great option to eliminate the use of multiple vehicles.
• Walk or Bike – Walking and biking are great ways to burn calories instead of burning gas! Not only do they serve as eco-friendly ways to run errands and get around town when the weather is nice, use of these alternatives helps take cars off area roads and reduces the emissions that lead to poor air quality. Experts note that if just 1 percent of those who drive chose to bike regularly instead, automobile emissions would fall 2 to 4 percent.

Drop the keys and pledge to be car-free on September 22 to do your share for cleaner air and help people all across the St. Louis region breathe easier! For more great tips on how to achieve cleaner air all year long, visit https://cleanair-stlouis.com/air-quality-tips/, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair.

Not only is it important for individuals to act sustainably to reduce environmental impact, but the same goes for companies as well. Businesses often leave behind a large carbon footprint, but by creating green initiatives these companies can do their share for cleaner air and work towards improving the quality of our earth. The Clean Air Partnership values the efforts of businesses who channel their time and energy towards practicing sustainability, so this month we’re putting a spotlight on Ameren Missouri and their commitment to keeping pace with future energy needs by implementing green business practices.

Ameren Missouri is part of St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation and has provided electric and gas service for more than 100 years.  As a company that is proud to serve, support and invest in the communities they call home, they also value the importance of balancing the needs of our environment, customers and economy. From preventing and controlling pollution, reducing greenhouse gases and creating renewable energy initiatives to developing innovative technologies that help the company operate cleanly, Ameren is dedicated to building a legacy of environmental stewardship.

After joining the St. Louis Green Business Challenge and putting their vision into action, Ameren Missouri proudly watched their green efforts be recognized in 2018 when they received the highest award in the Challenge, the Achievement Award in the Star Circle of Excellence and an Award of Merit at the Champion Level.  To achieve the title of Challenge Champion, businesses must have completed work with the Leader scorecard in past years and commit to continued implementation of deeper sustainability strategies, such as reducing energy usage by at least 25% and diverting waste by 75% or greater.

Ameren’s Champion Innovation Project focuses on investing in Missouri’s clean energy future by entering an agreement to acquire, after construction, a 400-megawatt wind energy facility in northeast Missouri. This facility will become operational in 2020 and the state-of-the-art turbines will produce wind energy for an estimated 120,000 homes in Adair and Schuyler counties. Not only will this sustainability effort provide increased access to new sources of clean energy, it also helps open the door to further development in the region, bringing additional jobs and economic benefits to the area.

Ameren’s continuous efforts to give back to the community by being a green leader in the industry shows their diligence to fulfilling the mission of “powering the quality of life”. They have carried out plans to provide their customers with greater benefits today and in the future – including more affordable and stable rates – all while being able to provide another source of renewable energy in Missouri.

To learn more about the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair. For additional information on the sustainable efforts underway by Ameren Missouri and how your company can get involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, visit http://stlouisgreenchallenge.com/.