Employers throughout the Bay Area demonstrate their commitment to protecting air quality by educating employees, supporting alternative commutes and developing clean air policies and practices.
The Spare the Air Employer Program connects employers to resources and information to help them reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, especially from driving and wood burning. These resources include ideals and alternatives to help employers and their employees Spare the Air at work and at home.
In the summer months, Employer Program members are sent a fax and/or email the day before a Spare the Air Day, asking them to notify their employees to take action. Providing notification the day before allows employees time to arrange carpools, figure out transit schedules or bike routes, or get permission to telecommute, thereby reducing the number of commute trips.
During the winter months, Winter Spare the Air Alerts are issued the afternoon before an episode. Coordinators are asked to encourage employees to drive less, and to refrain from using wood-burning appliances. Between seasons, and all year long, coordinators can provide employees with tips for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as using less energy.
Approximately 2,000 Bay Area businesses and government agencies participate in the program.
The 2009-10 Winter Spare the Air season ended on February 28. There is currently no wood burning ban in place.
The Bay Area burn status will be updated daily during the 2010-11 Winter Spare the Air season beginning November 1.
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