Spare the Air

Air pollution is a serious public health concern. Although the Bay Area is one of the cleanest of the major California air basins, there are still days when air pollution exceeds the federal and state health-based air quality standards.

The Spare the Air Program was established by the The Bay Area Air Quality Management District in 1991 to reduce air pollution and provide advance notice when a "Spare the Air Alert" is in effect.  The Air District declares Spare the Air Alerts on days when air quality is forecast to exceed federal standards.

The Spare the Air Program has two seasonal components that educate residents about the effects of air pollution and encourage them to take action to improve air quality in the Bay Area.

Spare the Air Every Day (Summer)

During the summer months, ozone pollution can become a health problem in the Bay Area. The summertime Spare the Air program notifies residents when air quality is forecast to be unhealthy, and urges residents to drive less and reduce their emissions of ozone-forming pollutants.

Winter Spare the Air

During the winter months, concentrations of particulate matter can reach unhealthy levels. The Winter Spare the Air program notifies residents when particulate levels are anticipated to be high. On high pollution days, the Air District will issue a Winter Spare the Air Alert which prohibits burning wood, firelogs or pellets in your fireplace or woodstove.

How to Participate

• Sign up for AirAlerts, an email service that informs the public the day before a Spare the Air Alert is declared. It encourages Bay Area residents to modify their behavior to reduce air pollution and gives advance notice to people with respiratory sensitivities, such as asthma or emphysema.
• The Employer Program provides more than 2,100 businesses with free tools to help them educate employees about pollution prevention and advises them when an  Spare the Air Alert is issued.
• Community Resource Teams provide an opportunity for all interested people to work together and plan educational activities and programs to reduce air pollution in their communities.