What's is up with Spare the Air? (2013, how much)

[skubaman]

I wouldn't want to contribute to air pollution but I think it's fair to ask and consider some points:
- Is it right to punish the entire Bay Area if the conditions are bad in one given area?
- The STA alert is based on weather forecast. If the weather changes shouldn't the alert also change?
- Enviro logs are up to 90% less pollutant, maybe the ban should be on wood burning only.
- There are many companies and business polluting A LOT more, actually impacting the air quality. And what about gas guzzlers? Why not a ban on driving on certain evenings? Or a refinery shut down on certain days?
- Who sets the STA alerts? Who has the power? Who gave this person the power? What other interests are in play?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

In past years I've been very harsh on BAAQMD and called them out numerous times for doing Spare The Air / Don't Light when a cold front is moving through or when there may be a couple inversions in the back canyons. But this year? The air is pretty gross due to the infamous drought / Rex Block.

[Des-Lab]

Originally Posted by sav858

I don't know anyone that uses their fireplace during the day, I'm clearly talking about at night when it's in the 30's. An inefficient electric heater from the early 80's and a $400 electric bill is why I use my fireplace, not sure who uses their fireplace for "visual effects".

^^^^^^^

This. I'm convinced is the REAL reason for these "no burn" days. I suspect that those laws, as with most laws, aren't passed for the reasons given at face value, but because of whose palm gets greased.

-In this case, PG&E (or SoCal Edison), who also just happen to be very politically powerful.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by sav858

Meh, it's cold at night anyways. How many people with asthma are hanging outside at night for an extended period of time in the suburbs anyways? lol.

Well -- it's not at night, but what you're burning is hanging around all day right now. I've been on my inhalers for three weeks. I go outside and I'm coughing in minutes. And with my job -- I'm outside a part of my workday daily for about an hour.

So -- I'm thankful for everyone who doesn't burn a fire right now. I know it's an inconvenience, and that you all miss the nice, cozy and pretty fire. Thank you all from the bottom of my lungs.

[Des-Lab]

Yes. I'm sure that this in no way, shape, or form contributes to your "asthma".

Of course the logical way to address that would be nothing short of political suicide. So we instead go after maybe 2% of the "offending sources" and call it "progress".

[skubaman]

and what about construction? The city has contractors working in front of my house for 6 months and they just put new "no parking" signs that go until end of february. I lost count of the amount of times they have drilled and covered the same holes on my street. My windows are covered with tar, concrete or whatever that black dust is. During the summer when I opened my windows it would take minutes for the floor to be covered with black dust. That has to be bad for people with respiratory problems.

[04kL4nD]

so what you're saying is that pollution is already bad enough, but you don't mind making it even worse for your own selfish convenience? haha OK.

[Des-Lab]

No, I'm saying to stop this BS with cherry picking the easy targets which consist of bragging about a minnow while throwing back a marlin. If our leaders were truly serious about curbing air pollution, then go after what really counts. Not the 2% of the populace that would like a nice cozy fire for a few hours maybe twenty nights a year.

[Kurinji]

Here's a link to a 2-year old article re: prediction of STA days. Apparently accuracy suffered as a result of giving folks advance warning of when a STA day would occur.

I appreciate the STA days, being a native of LA.


http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/green/Questionable-Spare-the-Air-Days-Issued-137323543.html

[bay2bay]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

Well -- it's not at night, but what you're burning is hanging around all day right now. I've been on my inhalers for three weeks. I go outside and I'm coughing in minutes. And with my job -- I'm outside a part of my workday daily for about an hour.

So -- I'm thankful for everyone who doesn't burn a fire right now. I know it's an inconvenience, and that you all miss the nice, cozy and pretty fire. Thank you all from the bottom of my lungs.

Hope you're feeling better. I don't have asthma; but, even I notice how bad the air quality is when I'm out and smell the wood burning these past few nights. My throat gets scratchy and I'm coughing.