With the green movement continuing to sweep the nation, more and more individuals in the St. Louis region and across the country are making personal commitments to “go green” in their daily lives. And with the air quality forecasting season getting underway this month, the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership (The Partnership) is building on the momentum surrounding the green movement by introducing a new, expanded green theme and working to educate area residents about how going green can positively impact the region’s air quality.

This year’s expanded theme is “Go Green: Do Your Share for Cleaner Air,” and it aims to reinforce how the simple steps we can take each day in our homes, at work and on the road can help reduce pollution-causing emissions that lead to poor air quality. From taking mass transit, carpooling and turning off appliances that aren’t in use to recycling office paper, newspaper and drink containers, there are numerous easy green lifestyle changes that can help residents across the St. Louis area breathe easier.

“What many people don’t realize is that a simple step like choosing to recycle helps our air quality because it reduces the pollution that’s created during resource extraction, manufacturing and disposal,” said Susannah Fuchs, Director of Environmental Health for the American Lung Association of the Central States and spokesperson for The Partnership. “Similarly, conserving energy helps to reduce emissions from burning coal which is used to produce electricity. We want the public to know that there are numerous simple green lifestyle choices they can make that can go a long way towards improving the quality of the air we breathe.”

The Partnership will kick off the summer air quality forecasting season during its 5th annual Clean Air Festival on Tuesday, May 20th from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Kiener Plaza in Downtown St. Louis. The event is expected to attract more than 500 attendees and will include live music, an appearance from K-HITS 96 radio personality Mark Klose, prize giveaways, free Ted Drewes frozen custard and more than a dozen clean-air- themed information booths designed to help individuals get involved in improving the region’s air quality. Expected exhibitors include the American Lung Association of the Central States, RideFinders, Citizens for Modern Transit, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and MoDOT.

“The Clean Air Festival will be a perfect opportunity for individuals to get information on the many ways they can go green and become a part of the regional clean air effort,” added Fuchs.