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High temperatures anticipated for the Bay Area this week are not only calling for the summer’s first Spare the Air day but for conservation of water and energy.
Bay Area Air Quality Management District Chair Mark Ross Tuesday announced that all public transit in the Bay Area Wednesday will be free until 1 p.m., and buses will remain free all day, in an effort to reduce pollutant emissions that linger in the air on days of high heat and low wind.
Wednesday’s Spare the Air day brings free transportation on Bay Area Rapid Transit, Bay Area trains and Bay Area ferries from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m., and free Bay Area bus service all day, Ross said.
“(The program) certainly does help,” Ross said. “On days such as (Wednesday) when it’s possible to reach an unhealthful (air) state, we’re tipping the balance in favor of good public health.”
Ross said ridership increases by about 8 to 15 percent on Spare the Air days. He hopes more residents will use public transit instead of driving to keep air quality healthy.
For a complete list of transit agencies participating in Wednesday’s Spare the Air day, go to http://www.511.org .
With temperatures expected to reach more than 90 degrees in the Bay Area this week, residents are also encouraged to stay cool and to reduce water and energy usage in an effort to conserve resources considered precious during times of extreme heat.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to rise to the mid 90s in the South Bay Wednesday through Friday and cool off by the weekend.
The weather service is advising residents to drink plenty of water, avoid alcoholic beverages and caffeine, use cool compresses and utilize air-conditioned spaces, weather forecaster Diana Henderson said.
The California Division of Occupational Safety & Health Administration is training employers on symptoms and measures that can be taken to evade heat-related illnesses, such as drinking plenty of water and taking breaks in the shade, spokeswoman Kate McGuire said.
As temperatures rise in the Bay Area this week, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is asking customers to conserve energy by setting thermostats to 78 degrees, using fans instead of air-conditioning to cool down indoor spaces and waiting until after 7 p.m. to use bigger appliances such as dishwashers, a spokesman for the San Francisco-based company said.
PG&E spokesman Joe Molica added that the company prepares for the heat by generating 15 percent more energy than is predicted in case of emergency situations.
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