Mile High Magazine 06/07/2026 Regional Air Quality Council

Monday, June 08, 2026 | 16:50

Guest: Kelsey Simpkins Communications and Programs Manager Simple Steps for Better Air is the Regional Air Quality Council’s summer effort to cut pollution along the Front Range by focusing on small daily habits that make a real difference. Avoiding unnecessary car idling reduces the emissions that help create ground‑level ozone—an invisible pollutant formed when tailpipe emissions mix with heat and sunlight during Colorado’s hot summer days. While ozone high in the stratosphere protects us from UV radiation, ozone near the ground can harm people with asthma, lung conditions, older adults, and children. Residents can check daily conditions through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment or most weather apps, work from home when possible, fuel vehicles after 5 p.m., and take advantage of a 30% discount on electric lawn and garden equipment through 2026. These simple steps help protect both our air and our health. SimpleStepsBetterAir.org.