The primary focus of the Division for Air Quality's education and information activities is "Clean Air for Kentucky."  This program features an air quality unit of study aligned to national science and KERA learning standards.  Units of study are available for all grade levels.

In addition to units of study, the division's various resource materials for teachers and students in grades K-12 include pamphlets, brochures and fact sheets and our Air Quality Resource Guide, which has been developed to supplement textbook information on air pollution.  The Resource Guide contains background materials, fact sheets, the air pollutant gremlins, classroom activities, games, quizzes, experiments, puzzles, coloring sheets and other helpful information about air quality.

The division's "Clean Air for Kentucky" educational exhibit includes hand-out materials and is available upon request for conferences, workshops, conventions and other special events. Speakers are also available.  Learn how to make your schools and the environment healthier places to learn and work.

TAKE ACTION:  You can make a difference in your community by promoting energy-saving choices and do a world of good by sharing this educational call-to-action with neighbors, other employees within your organization, students and local community members. Take the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=cal.showPledge, and put your pledge on the map!

VIDEO - Learn how you can save energy at home and help the environment (30 seconds, 2 MB - VIDEO HAS SOUND - turn up the volume on your computer)  Download Windows Media Player.

GET INVOLVED:  Your district or school can improve children's environmental health.

The Division for Air Quality is happy to provide schools assistance by helping interested schools coordinate the EPA "Tools for Schools" program.  This program teaches school staff to prevent and resolve IAQ problems and identify practical and low-cost and/or no-cost solutions to fixing indoor air quality problems. The Division for Air Quality can coordinate workshops on IAQ Tools for Schools through the EPA.  To order a Tools for Schools Kit, contact:  www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/toolkit.html 

The division can also work with schools that wish to utilize EPA's indoor air quality "Design Tools for Schools" Web site, which contains recommendations and tools to help communities and design professionals integrate good indoor air quality practices into the design, construction, renovation and operation of K-12 school facilities.  According to U.S. EPA, "Indoor Air Design Tools for Schools" provides both detailed guidance as well as links to other information resources to help design new schools as well as repair, renovate and maintain existing facilities.  Though its primary focus is on indoor air quality, it is also intended to encourage school districts to embrace the concept of designing High Performance Schools, an integrated, "whole building" approach to addressing a myriad of important - and sometimes competing - priorities, doing so in the context of tight budgets and limited staff.  Interested parties see the contact information below.

BECOME AN ENERGY STAR PARTNER

In Kentucky, there are more than 70 ENERGY STAR partners.  K-12 schools, universities and governmental organizations are involved in the program. Nationally, more than 7,000 organizations are partnered with ENERGY STAR.  Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2007 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars - all while saving $16 billion on their utility bills.  Schools interested in becoming ENERGY STAR partners, or in conserving energy for a healthier environment, should contact Elizabeth Robb at 800-928-0047. 

K-12 ENERGY STAR Partnership benefits and resources - visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=k12_schools.bus_schoolsk12

DAQ Partners with ENERGY STAR

The Division for Air Quality has partnered with the Governor's Office of Energy Policy and the ENERGY STAR program to become a Regional Energy Efficiency Program Sponsor. ENERGY STAR is a voluntary partnership between government, businesses, organizations and consumers.  The goal of ENERGY STAR is to create partnerships that protect our environment for future generations by utilizing energy-efficient products and practices today.

“Air quality in Kentucky is directly linked to energy consumption.  Therefore, the Division for Air Quality is pleased to announce that we are working to model best management practices for energy efficiency within state government by becoming an ENERGY STAR partner,” stated John Lyons, director of the Division for Air Quality.  Wasted energy contributes to many issues that the division deals with every day, from elevated criteria pollutants and air toxics, to the products of these pollutants, including smog, acid rain and global climate change.

Frequently Asked Questions - Information on Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) and Mercury

Clean School Bus USA

U.S. EPA has a program in place called "Clean School Bus USA," and the Division for Air Quality would be happy to help schools get involved with this program.  The Clean School Bus program works with fleet managers to minimize idling, retrofit existing diesel buses with particulate traps, incorporate Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel and replace the oldest buses in the fleet with newer, less polluting models.  Grant funding is available for this program.

What You Should Know About Diesel Exhaust in School Buses

The Division for Air Quality wants to help schools with "Anti-Idling Campaigns" designed to increase awareness about health effects associated with exhaust fumes and minimize fleet idling.  School districts can adopt an anti-idling policy and division staff is happy to work with administrative staff to develop the policy and train bus drivers.

• Campbell County schools showcase efforts for cleaner-burning school buses.
  • Clean School Bus Awareness Day

Kentucky Clean School Bus Grant Program

The Kentucky Division for Air Quality announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for projects to purchase and install emission control (retrofit) devices and idle reduction technologies on diesel school buses in Kentucky. This competitive funding opportunity is open to all public school districts located in the state of Kentucky. The project proposal deadline for this grant program is Dec. 19, 2008.

Special Note:  Due to current budget cuts in Kentucky’s public school districts, the Division for Air Quality is withdrawing the requirement that school districts contribute a 25 percent match to the funding provided through this grant program. The Division for Air Quality will now fund up to 100 percent of the total approved project costs, although schools that chose to provide a match will score additional points in the selection process.

• Clean School Bus Grant Application FY2008

Additional Resources

Sample Anti-idling School Bus Policy

Houston Independent School District No-Idle Policy

What You Should Know About Diesel Exhaust and School Bus Idling

How Reducing School Bus Idling Can Help Children's Health and Create Cleaner Air Presentation

Fuel Winterization

Reports of refinery production indicate that more than 85 percent of the nation's motor vehicle diesel fuel is ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD). During winter months, the maintenance of diesel fuel cold operability becomes an important concern. This concern is one that has always existed, however, and is not specifically related to the sulfur content of your diesel fuel. 

Kerosene commonly used for fuel winterization may still be used for blending with ULSD; however such kerosene must also comply with a 15 ppm sulfur standard.  Chemical coal operability additives may also be used in ULSD.  View U.S. EPA's memo on this topic.

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