In 2007, open burning and residential wood burning were identified as the main sources of air pollution in our local area.
In 2015, a collaborative Clean Air Strategy was implemented, which set out strategies and actions to take in our region.
Although the air quality in the Central Okanagan is generally good, a recent PM2.5 Study in the Central Okanagan showed specific neighbourhoods may reach higher concentrations of particulate matter due to local wood burning sources and vehicle emissions.
Air pollutants
Smoke from residential wood burning appliances, open burning, vehicle emissions and road dust are significant sources of particulate matter. Particulate matter are tiny particles, not visible by the naked eye, but are the most serious air pollutant in British Columbia. They are inhaled deep into lungs and enter the blood stream which can lead to serious health impacts on organs such as the heart.
The main sources of pollution in the Central Okanagan are:
- Particulate Matter
- Greenhouse Gases
- Volatile Organic Compounds
- Ground-level Ozone
- NO2
Indoor air quality
As people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, the quality of the indoor environment is an important consideration for health. Indoor environments can be contaminated by chemical and organic pollutants that migrate from outdoors or that result from gas stoves and other indoor sources, such as building materials, pets, radon, and environmental tobacco smoke.
Indoor air contaminants are pollutants that are present in the air and can put your health at risk. There are 3 main types of indoor air contaminants:
- Biological pollutants from living organisms like:
- Mould and fungi
- Bacteria (such as legionella)
- House dust mites
- Pollen and spores (known as aeroallergens)
- Chemical Pollutants are gases, vapours and particles:
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Formaldehyde
- Lead
- Asbestos
- Ozone
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Dust or particles (particulate matter)
- Radiological pollutants are radioactive substances:
Improve indoor air quality
Get active |
Choose active transportation like walking, cycling and public transit. Check the smartTRIPS website for more information. |
Small engines are big polluters |
Gas lawnmowers and other small engines are responsible for creating some of the worst air pollutants The best thing to do is to replace your gas equipment with electric or human-powered machines If you are not able to replace your equipment, be careful when using it Exercise caution to avoid spilling fuel, keep your equipment properly maintained and use alternatives whenever possible Be sure to recycle your old equipment, too |
Home heating and energy use |
Reducing home heating and energy use will save you money and help reduce air pollution. Rebates on efficient upgrades are available from Fortis and BC Hydro. |
Wood heating |
If you burn wood to heat your home, ensure you are burning it properly. It is illegal to burn anything other than untreated, seasoned (dry) wood. Check out the woodstove exchange program and wood burning best practices for videos and great advice on woodstove use. If you burn wood to heat your home, ensure you are burning it properly. It is illegal to burn anything other than untreated, seasoned (dry) wood. Check out our wood heating page and the Burn it Smart Online Tool for videos and great advice on woodstove use. |
Dust control |
Dust is Particulate Matter (PM) which come primarily from the soil. It is suspended in the air by wind action and human activities and can travel 100-1000m affecting everyone's health. You can keep it under control by simply applying a bit of water while sweeping outside. Do your part and your family and neighbours will breathe better. |
Avoid toxic chemicals |
Get a quick glimpse of some of the most important ways to protect the air in your home by touring the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) House. Choose green products and alternatives:
Volatile organic compounds (VOC):
Radon gas:
|
For information on indoor air pollutants see the EPA guide to indoor air quality. You can also access important information about indoor quality at Interior Health.
Guides/Best practices
Dust |
This Dust Best Management Practices Guide is intended to assist any person, local governments or corporations which would like to improve its dust management. This is a compilation of several best practices from various companies and local governments in Canada and other countries to support current or help initiate efforts to prevent or control fugitive dust. |
Green fleet guide |
The Green Fleet Guide can serve as a starting point for local governments or corporations to update or develop and implement their own Green Fleet Policy. It is intended to support companies with a small-medium fleet to complete a vehicle inventory and calculate their Baseline emissions. It contains emission factors, a fleet inventory template, and several links to other useful resources to support their continuing efforts to keep our air clean. Request the excel file to complete your Fleet Inventory and estimate baseline emissions. Send an email to airquality@kelowna.ca
|
Sustainable procurement |
This Sustainable Procurement Guide is intended to assist any person, local governments or Corporations which would like to commence or increase its environmental leadership and social responsibility. The model policy, checklist and guidelines are a compilation of several policies and best practices from various companies and local governments in Canada and other countries. The model policy, or an amended version, could serve as a starting point for corporations or local governments to create or update their own policy based on their specific circumstances, requirements, and timeframes. Includes general purchasing specifications, what are the international and well recognized Third Party certification logos, low VOC’s % reference for specific products, etc.
|
Radon |
Radon has been identified as the leading environmental carcinogen in Canada. In 2021 and 2022 the BC Lung Foundation-Healthy Indoor Environments Program, worked with the Regional District of Central Okanagan's Air Quality Coordinator, Interior Health and workshopped with local governments to create a comprehensive guide for local radon reduction: |