Employers

Employers are important to improving air quality in the New York metro area, and we invite all to join Clean Air NY. Participants agree to distribute information about air quality to employees and to take any other actions aimed at reducing air pollution in the region.

What You'll Get From Clean Air NY

After signing up with the Clean Air NY network, employers will receive data about once a month that can be distributed to employees via e-mail or by displaying it in a common area. This information will help your employees make better choices every day:

• Action Day Bulletins. Sent by e-mail, these messages will arrive ready for you to distribute or to display on Air Quality Action Days. They include steps to reduce air pollution and let people know that while Air Quality Action Days are still days when most people can go about their normal activities, such as going to work, driving may be one of the most polluting activities that people do on that day.
• Clean Air Connections and The Latest Breeze. These e-newsletters will offer new ways to improve air quality and reap the other benefits of making alternate transportation choices, such as greater work force effectiveness.
• Access to Local Transportation Experts. 511NY Rideshare can help your employees make better transportation choices at little or no cost to you.

Air Quality Action Day: What Is It? What to Do?

Air Quality Action Days signal when air quality is predicted to be in the unhealthy range for sensitive groups. It's a day that's all about helping your employees make smart choices that reduce air pollution. So while it’s a day when people can go about most of their normal activities, such as going to work, driving may be one of the most polluting activities that people do on that day. It’s a great day to suggest to employees that they carpool to and from work with neighbors or colleagues. It's also a day when you can choose to let employees work from home. And, it's a day to bring your own lunch to work and to ask fellow employees to do so, so no one has to make an extra trip.

What Are My Responsibilities?

When employers join Clean Air NY, they decide what actions to take. The first is simple: Distribute the Action Day Bulletins received before an Air Quality Action Day to all employees, via e-mail or by posting a notice in a common area. Everything else is up to you. Some employers develop telecommuting policies, arrange vanpools and carpool programs for employees or host information sessions about air quality. Sending air pollution prevention information to employees, especially on Air Quality Action Days, is an easy way to contribute, and we'll provide everything you need. We can work with you on how to maximize your involvement in Clean Air NY. In addition, 511NY Rideshare can help arrange a transportation program for your organization to ease your employees' commutes to and from work while also reducing air pollution.

Want to Do More?

Consider becoming a Clean Air NY Champion. Or, if you work for a nonprofit, faith-based organization, environmental or health-focused group, local government or similar type of organization, check out opportunities for organizations.