Tag Archive for: achievement

How You Can Impact Air Quality All Year Long

It’s official – the 14th annual Clear the Air Challenge is over! Thanks to participation from our communities, businesses and individuals like you, we were able to reduce 365.1 tons of CO2 emissions, eliminate 55,179 trips, reduce 1,027,027.3 miles traveled, save $600,000, and burn 1.9 million calories in just 31 days.

However, just because July is over doesn’t mean we should stop being mindful of our air quality. The Clear the Air Challenge may be a month-long event, but the effects of Utah’s air quality on our community are felt year-round. Luckily, there are steps each of us can take to benefit air quality all year long:

At Home

If you participated in the Challenge, you’ve probably realized by now that small changes can make a big difference. By driving alone less, you’re not only reducing your emissions, but you’re also saving money on gas, maintenance and parking costs. Even though the Challenge is over, you can still use TravelWise strategies to get around. It’s a win-win for both you and our air!

Making a difference in air quality isn’t just about driving, either. At home, try making small changes like replacing old fuel containers, buying water-based paints and choosing green lawn and garden products. And, of course, don’t forget to flip off the lights whenever you leave the room.

At Work

During the Clear the Air Challenge, dozens of businesses and organizations across the state created teams to encourage their employees to drive alone less. Your organization’s commitment to air quality doesn’t have to end just because the Challenge did. Ask your coworkers if they would be interested in a carpool group. Or, see if there are any TRAX or bus stations near your office – it might be easier to use public transportation than you think.

If you are a part of your company’s leadership, see what you can do on an administrative level. UCAIR has established a grant program to encourage businesses, government entities and non-profit organizations to invest in emissions-reducing and energy-efficient technology. You and your company might just benefit!

In The Community

The air we breathe affects all of us, so we should all be involved in the conversation. Seek out community opportunities to get involved in clean air efforts by keeping your ears and eyes open! You can participate in air quality planning through the Division of Air Quality or other state and local government groups. Lend your voice and speak up for Utah’s air.

And, when the Clear the Air Challenge comes around again next year, don’t forget to participate! The Challenge depends on the participation of community members like you to be successful. The impact of our actions reverberates through the year, influencing the quality of the air we all share. By embracing simple changes at home, collaborating with colleagues at work and engaging actively within our communities, we are sowing the seeds of a cleaner, healthier future. 

For more ways you can support and improve Utah’s air quality, visit the UCAIR website.

How Do Prizes and Achievement Badges Work?

If you’ve participated in the Clear the Air Challenge before, you might remember that as you log your TravelWise trips throughout the month, you unlock achievement badges. These badges show what you’ve accomplished during the Challenge, and they also serve as entries into our weekly opportunity drawings. Long story short: the more badges you unlock, the better chance you have to win.

Achievement Badges

There are three types of badges that participants can earn during the Challenge. The first type is activity achievements, which are automatically unlocked as trips are logged. These badges include achievements like “First Carpool” and “Log 10 Trips.” 

The second type of badge is action achievements, which are unlocked after completing various actions such as liking the Challenge’s Facebook account or sharing on social media. In order to unlock these badges, participants must fill out their corresponding forms after completing the action. 

The third type of badge is skill achievements. These include achievements like the “TravelWise Pro” and “UCAIR Follower” badges and are awarded when participants learn more about the Challenge or other educational topics. Similar to the action achievements, these badges require completion of their corresponding quizzes prior to unlocking.

To view available achievement badges and their forms, visit the TravelWise Tracker homepage and scroll down. You can also view your earned badges on your dashboard. 

Prizes

There are several opportunities to win prizes during the Clear the Air Challenge. Each week, we randomly select several participants to win a gift card to a local restaurant or business, tickets to area attractions and more. Each badge earned during that week counts as one entry into the weekly drawing, and winners are notified via email.

Additionally, at the end of the Challenge, the top three participants who save the most emissions will win grand prizes:

First Place: Utah Camping Kit

  • Utah State Parks Pass
  • REI Two-Person Backpacking Tent
  • IGLOO Cooler

Second Place: A Day at the Zoo

  • Hogle Zoo Duo Annual Membership
  • Portable Cooler

Third Place: Picnic in the Park

  • Pendleton Portable Picnic Blanket
  • $50 Smith’s Gift Card

Note: The Clear the Air Challenge is as accurate as the data entered by participants. Therefore, entries are diligently monitored to ensure that Challenge results are accurate. If there is an entry in question, the participant is contacted and the entry is verified. Additionally, the grand prizes must be picked up in person at the Salt Lake Chamber office.

If you have further questions about the Challenge, achievement badges or prizes, contact us at info@cleartheairchallenge.org. We wish you the best of luck!