Road to Clean Air- Health Benefits of Electric Vehicles with Will Barret

What would happen in terms of our health and wealth if we started only purcashing electric vehicles by the year 2030? Today on the podcast I talk to Will Barrett of the American Lung Association about the new analysis the ALA has commissioned called the Road to Clean Air. We recorded this with sky high levels of PM2.5 outside due to wildfires worsened by climate change, and it was an analysis that gave me some hope on the dual benefits of addressing climate change and decreasing particulate matter. Furthermore, Will is hopeful that we can actually achieve these goals. Listen to the podcast today for a dose of hope, then take action for healthy air in your own life.

What Can You Do?

1- Speak up about the health of clean air- you can sign the ALA’s petition to your local Governor to focus on healthy air here. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Post about the importance of clean air with the #Standupforcleanair.

2- Ask your representatives at all levels of government, including your state legislature to incentivize electric vehicles. Ask your state, town or county to only purchase electric vehicles- frequently a municipality has bulk purchasing power and can invest in infrastructure that makes electrification more possible for individuals and businesses.

3- Donate to the ALA here- show support from the Air Health Our Health community!

4- Are you considering purchasing a new car soon? Choose electric! Or a plug-in hybrid with a decent range if you’re not ready to go full electric. Consumer Reports estimates a typical EV owner can save $800-$1000 on fuel costs especially if they charge at home, and lifetime savings of $4,600 on vehicle maintenance, oil changes, etc.

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See the blog post for more information and references, or go to airhealthourhealth.org.

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