Deciding To Accept The Challenge

Summary of the 2004 “Cutting Pollution When It Counts!”

Pilot Program

We Called, Wrote Letters, Advertised and E-mailed

In an effort to recruit companies to voluntarily participate in the Pilot Program the following methods were used.

  • Emailed invitations and made telephone calls to businesses with current air quality permits
  • Requested that all AQC members ask their employers and at least one other business to participate
  • Mailed letters to Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners requesting that they encourage their employers to participate.
  • Mailed letters from Harry Jones to personal contacts in the following organizations. (Bank of America, Carolina’s Medical Center, Presbyterian Healthcare, Sonic Automotive, Inc. and Alan Tate)
  • Placed a ¼ page ad in the business section of the Charlotte Observer, which has a reported readership of 298,300 people.
  • Attended various meetings around the County to promote the program including Chamber of Commerce meetings
  • Included in Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
  • Obtained media coverage including articles in the Charlotte Observer March 25, March 29, April 27, and June 1 and an article in Charlotte Business Journal in March 2004.

Fifteen Pilot the Program

The only effective way of recruiting proved to be through verbal communication with an existing contact within the business or organization. These activities resulted in face-to-face meetings with key decision makers in a total of thirty-five (35) local businesses and organizations. Fifteen (15) of those agreed to pilot the program. The size of pilot companies ranged from 6 employees to 4,500 employees.

Most Reductions from Non-Road Equipment

To date we have received plans from five of the pilot companies. The plans cover a total of 5,404 employees working in Mecklenburg County and would yield approximately 549 pounds of reduction in ozone precursors per day. The majority of reductions were obtained from shifting the use of non-road equipment until after noon. Only three of the five plans included commute related reductions.

One pilot with 450 employees had no business related reduction opportunities and submitted a plan with only commute related reductions.

Putting the Plan Into Action- Average of 30% Daily Pollution Reduction

Four pilot companies reported to us that they put their plan into action at least once.

Because they started planning early, Moore & Van Allen law firm was able to enact their plan on at least four predicted ozone action days this summer. Their average daily reduction was 21.5% of their commute-generated emissions.

Mecklenburg County Government was also able to implement their plan on an ozone action day. With participation from 14 of 17 departments the County reduced emissions by 40%.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals implemented their plan on an ozone action day and exceeded their 40% reduction target. The reductions were achieved through commuting changes and reducing use of nonroad equipment.

Noveon Textile Chemicals Inc. was able to reach a 20% reduction through commute and anti-idling measures.

There have been limited opportunities to put the plan into action this summer due to the limited number of days that we have experienced weather conducive to ozone formation.

Majority of Pilots Respond that Livelihood of Business Would Not Be Affected

MCAQ sent a questionnaire with ten questions to ozone coordinators at each of the fifteen pilot companies.

Ten companies responded and their feedback is summarized below.

  • Only five of the fifteen (1/3) surveyed their employees about their commuting habits.
  • Eight of the ten respondents were able to develop a plan this summer.
  • Four companies implemented their plan
  • When asked if participation in the program was a significant disruption to their business all responded that it was not.
  • Ozone Coordinators reported spending an average of 80 hours on the pilot program. One company reported only spending 5 hours and another as much as 475 hours.
  • Six companies indicated that the program was less time consuming than they had expected.
  • Two companies offered incentives and another is considering them. The cost of incentives averaged about $1-2 per employee.
  • All companies said that options were flexible enough to find something that worked for them, and that they are all willing to participate voluntarily in the future.
  • Mecklenburg County Government’s ozone coordinator asked each department to complete the questionnaire. Eight Mecklenburg County departments responded. All departments surveyed their employees and developed a plan. Seven implemented the plan and six said that the plan did not significantly disrupt operations. One department offered time off and gift certificates as incentives. Six departments reported that the program took less time than they expected. Seven departments thought that the options were flexible enough. No department felt that a mandatory program would significantly affect their operation.
  • The companies felt that MCAQ staff was very helpful in answering questions and providing help. One company would like a longer list of options that includes the amount of credit each is worth.
  • A few companies reported having trouble communicating the forecast to employees and soliciting participation. It is difficult to announce ozone action days that occur on Monday.
  • One company had 164 employees take advantage of free bus passes including 95 new bus riders.
  • The final question asked coordinators if it would threaten the livelihood of their business if this program were adopted as a mandatory regulation. Six answered that it would not. One of the companies was concerned about being fined for not meeting the goal. And another felt it would be challenging but not impossible to coordinate alternative transportation and working arrangements.