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There’s never been a bigger need for time spent with nature. Spending time outdoors has a wide range of mental and physical health benefits.

Walking among or simply looking at trees lowers blood pressure and reduces the stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

Light tends to elevate people’s mood, and there’s usually more light available outside than in. Physical activity has been shown to help people relax and cheer up, so if being outside replaces inactive pursuits with active ones, it might also mean more smiles.

Can’t concentrate at work? Leave your office for a few minutes and go stroll in a nearby park. Walking in nature helps restore our focus.

Fresh air and sunshine can make a real difference in our lives. Considering all that nature does for us, it only makes sense that we protect and appreciate the natural resources around us.

Small changes, like reducing idling, carrying a refillable water bottle and driving less can make a big difference in preserving the natural world around us.

Studies show that 80% of New Year’s resolutions have gone by the wayside by February. Most resolutions are too general or too lofty to be reached. Specific, attainable goals are the way to go. If you want to be healthier, do something good for the environment and save money, KAIRE can help you with a resolution you can easily keep.

Deciding to be Idle Free ticks all the boxes as healthy, environmentally friendly and money saving.

Count to 10, Car Off Then! Unnecessary idling wastes gas and adds extra emissions to the air you are breathing. Turning off your engine when you know you’ll be parked and waiting for more than 10 seconds is a good way to remember your new air friendly habit. Whether you’re waiting in a drive thru or picking up a friend, being Idle Free is healthier and more economical.

It’s not too late to make an Idle Free resolution you can stick to. The sooner you are Idle Free, the sooner your fuel savings will add up. Being Idle Free is simply replacing a bad habit with a good one. And it’s a healthy New Year’s resolution you can keep!

Idling your car does little to warm up your engine. As Popular Mechanics says, “The best thing to do is start the car, take a minute to knock the ice off your windows, and get going.”

Unnecessary idling adds extra emissions to the air and can damage your engine over time. As long as your windows are clear, it’s safe to drive your car. It will warm up best as you drive.

Yes, this might contradict the advice your parents or grandparents gave you when you learned to drive. Carbureted engines from the 1980s and before required an engine warm up, but today’s vehicles are designed differently.

Learn more in this Popular Mechanics article here.

Fall is a time for transition. Cooler temperatures mean it’s time to bring out the jackets and hoodies. It also means it’s the end of what is considered Ozone Season in Kentuckiana.

The change of seasons reduces several contributors to ozone, including ultraviolet light and high temperatures. That doesn’t mean the end of air pollution forecasts, however. Forecasts will focus on particle pollution throughout the fall and winter until we enter ozone season again in the spring.

Just because we’re at the end of ozone season, doesn’t mean we should stop doing our part for cleaner air. Good air quality habits make a difference all year round. In fact, being Idle Free, combining errands and driving less make a difference here in your community, no matter what the weather.

A lot has changed in the last six months—how we work, how we go to school, and how we take care of daily tasks. Sometimes it can be overwhelming.

Amongst all the changes, staying healthy still needs to be a priority, for you and your loved ones.Small changes can help bring some calm in the chaos.

Take mental breaks. A walk outdoors, a few minutes of stretches, a steaming mug of tea or your favorite tunes on your playlist can all give you a little lift when you need it.

Check the Air Quality Index, especially if you or a loved one has respiratory illness. Ozone season is winding down, but our area can still have elevated ozone in September. Plan your time outdoors to reduce your exposure.

Fall is a great time for planting. Cooler temperatures give trees and shrubs a chance to get well established and get a head start for next spring. These plants will help the air while beautifying your yard. No yard? Try a new houseplant, especially the popular succulents which need little care, but brighten up your desk. Or keep a pot of herbs near the kitchen window for adding color and flavor to your recipes.

Be Idle Free. If you’re back in the car rider line for school, turning off your engine while you are waiting is good for the air and your wallet. Picking up your takeout food or your curbside order of groceries? Being Idle Free protects your health and the health of employees bringing your order.

Even in the midst of many changes, our need for clean air continues. In many ways, protecting our health has become more important than ever. Small changes that clean the air are a positive step toward a healthier you.