The daily and forecasted AQI plays a critical role in increasing awareness of air quality throughout SLO County.
The APCD and SLO County Public Health continue efforts to expand air quality awareness tools to assist South County residents, health professionals and school personnel in responding to high air pollution days. 

APCD has designed various tools to assist school officials with increasing air quality awareness and protecting public health on campus. Specific programs include the Air Quality Forecast program and the APCD's Activity Recommendation Chart. Local schools can incorporate a Flag Program at on their campus to get parents, teachers and students aware of the air quality in their area every single day. Schools fly a green, yellow, orange or red flag depending on the air quality forecasted for that day. The AQI can also be found in the Tribune and Times Press Recorder in the weather section.

To see the air quality forecast for your area or to sign up to receive alerts via text or email visit our website at www.slocleanair.org. 

On February 24, the APCD and Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5) will be holding a grant workshop- aimed at enhancing local businesses awareness on the over $825,000 in grant funding available for alternative fuels, school buses, on-road trucks, off-road construction equipment, and agricultural tractors and engines. The workshop will also provide local fleet operators an opportunity to learn about the changes to California Air Resources Board's regulations affecting various categories of diesel engines, and the steps needed to apply for grant funds. Grants to purchase alternative fuel vehicles and necessary infrastructure will also be discussed during this workshop.

Space is limited for this workshop. If you would like to attend the workshop- you must RSVP by February 17! To RSVP for the workshop- call 805-781-5759 or email aroslan@co.slo.ca.us

Brian Aunger has worked at the APCD for over 11 years. He joined the APCD's Monitoring Division in 1999 before moving to the Engineering Division in 2001.  As an integral part of the Engineering team, Brian enjoys helping applicants through the permit process and working with local businesses to find economical solutions to comply with air quality regulations.

As a permit engineer, Brian reviews all permit applications and observes source tests and other air quality sampling in the field. He also assists gas station owners through the permit process to install the electronic monitoring systems that are now required to alert operators to malfunctions in gas vapor control systems. In the APCD's recent efforts to address greenhouse gas emissions, Brian is also one of the two staff who received certification to verify GHG emissions from large emission sources, and is working to compile an inventory of all GHG emissions throughout SLO County.

He first became interested in engineering and technology in high school and through operating his own sound company in Santa Barbara, he helped produce events, including benefit concerts to raise awareness on environmental issues. 

Outside of work, Brian loves to weld scrap metal into sculptures, plant in his garden and teach science through the Air and Waste Management Association and 4H.