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The Spare the Air program was established by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) in 1991 to reduce air pollution and provide advance notice when a Spare the Air Alert is in effect. The Air District declares Spare the Air Alerts on days when air quality is forecast to be unhealthy.

The Spare the Air program has two seasonal components that educate residents about the effects of air pollution and encourage them to take action to improve air quality in the Bay Area: Easy, Breezy, Summer Commute Tips and Hot Tips for Cool Air in Winter. 

Southern Alameda County Spare the Air Resource Team


BAAQMD, in support with other local organizations, has created air quality resource teams throughout the Bay Area that work to better air quality in the region. The Southern Alameda County Spare the Air Resource Team has worked to reduce greenhouse gas production and traffic congestion by promoting commute alternatives to solo driving and educating drivers about the expense and waste of unnecessary idling.

Idle Free Bay Area


The "Idle Free Bay Area" campaign encourages drivers to reduce unnecessary vehicle idling by turning off your vehicle's engine running when it is parked or not in use. Top reasons to go idle free include:

  • Save money – 30 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
  • Breathe easier – car exhaust can aggravate asthma and decrease lung function – especially in children. 
  • Keep the sky blue – car exhaust is the #1 source of summertime air pollution in the Bay Area.
  • Reduce your carbon footprint – up to 1,500 pounds of greenhouse gases per year.
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Diesel Free by '33 Campaign


The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is leading a campaign to eliminate diesel exhaust by 2033, a potent source of pollutive greenhouse gas emissions. Diesel air pollution from trucks and off-road mobile engines is highly toxic and can have an immediate impact on the health of residents in communities where emissions are most concentrated. It is also a significant source of black carbon, a short-lived climate pollutant that contributes considerably to global climate change.

Find out more by visiting the official website.

Spare the Air Youth Program


The Spare the Air Youth website was launched by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in partnership with BAAQMD to teach students about the benefits of walking, biking, carpooling or taking transit to and from school. 

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