Estimated read time: 7-8 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — As Utahns, the Salt Lake Valley's air quality during the winter months is something we have begrudgingly become accustomed to, and a problem to which we welcome a solution. Most of us may not realize that the biggest contributors to poor air quality are cars, trucks, homes, small businesses and industry and a population which has, according to the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, expanded by nearly 900,000 people in the past two decades.
Enhancing air quality
Alan Matheson, state planning coordinator and senior environmental advisor to Governor Gary R. Herbert, says that although we must certainly do more to enhance our air quality, we're actually producing far less emissions now than we were two decades ago with a smaller population.
There's no question we have to do better in terms of improving air quality, and we know it can be done.
–- Alan Matheson, senior environmental advisor to Gov. Gary R. Herbert
"There's no question we have to do better in terms of improving air quality, and we know it can be done," said Matheson. "If you look long term, our air quality is significantly better than it was 20 years ago. Between 2002 and 2008, in Salt Lake County alone, total emissions went from 409,000 tons to 217,000 tons. Almost cut in half. Part of this has to do with regulation and new auto technology. We meet the federal standards on average about 95 percent of the time. We are working to meet the standards 100 percent of the time."
In response to the need for improved air quality, two Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) supported professors are developing technologies that, coupled with behavioral changes, may help clear the air and allow us to breathe a little easier.
Driving towards better air
Regan Zane, a Utah State University (USU) and USTAR supported professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering, is working with his team of researchers to make electric vehicles more competitive with traditional vehicles by improving battery systems. The battery his team is creating will be markedly lighter and about 20-30 percent cheaper than current models. Zane says the goal is to move the transportation sector to a higher level of efficiency and toward vehicle electrification, which means cleaner air for all of us to breathe.
"We are looking at how we can apply controls that manage the energy that goes in and out of the battery cells," said Zane. "How can we make the batteries last longer and reduce the price for the customer?"
Zane's battery addresses the issue of poor air quality by making the transition to electric vehicles more economical and leading to more vehicles on the road with zero tailpipe emissions. The air quality concern is shifted from vehicles to electricity generation, where power plants can achieve significantly higher efficiency and lower emissions and can be combined with renewable energy sources.
"We want to do physics-based modeling of individual battery cells based on external characteristics," said Zane. "We want to predict what's happening inside, and that will allow us to drive harder and avoid degradations. Our goal is a 10 year plus lifetime for the battery. We are building electronics to integrate with the cells and improve their performance."
Understanding the big picture
When we drive, heat our homes and manufacture products, especially during the inversion months, we are increasing the amount of particulate matter floating in the air. This comes from the use of fossil fuel furnaces and wood burning stoves in our homes as well as the emissions from our cars and industry. All of this has an impact on the air around us, leaving us to "stew" in the murk of our own making.
We are looking for ways that we can pull together to solve the problem; air quality is a high priority." -- Alan Matheson, senior environmental advisor to Gov. Gary R. Herbert
The topography of the Wasatch Front negatively impacts our air quality, specifically during the inversion months. The inversion occurs when a layer of warm air covers the cold air in the valley, trapping pollutants. Matheson says that although topography is an issue, something still must be done to fix the bigger problem.
"Topography lends itself to air pollution episodes," said Matheson. "We recognize that as a challenge, not an excuse. We are looking for ways that we can pull together to solve the problem; air quality is a high priority."
In 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency tightened its standards and altered the classification system used to give warnings on pollution build-up. What was once classified as a yellow or moderate day is now more often ranked as an unhealthy or red day. This coupled with the public's awareness of the issue, has raised concerns for those living along the Wasatch Front and other Utah cities.
During the inversion months, we breathe in atmospheric particulate matter, tiny pieces of solid or liquid matter. It can adversely affect human health, climate and precipitation. Some of these particulates occur naturally from fires, dust storms and vegetation. Burning fossil fuels in cars, power plants and other industrial processes also contributes significant amounts of particulates.
Bryce Bird, director of Utah's Department of Environmental Quality, expanded on the pollutants trapped in the atmosphere.
"Everything we generate is stuck in here with us," said Bird. "Under inversion conditions, the humidity level goes up, emissions concentrate and it creates the right chemical situation where the gas forms particles, and we end up with particulate matter that exceeds federal health standards."
In November, the state adopted a State Implementation Plan to get Utah into compliance with federal standards by 2019. The plan includes measures to reduce emissions from industry, commercial sources and vehicles.
According to Bird, while the plan is a great step, we need to identify additional reductions that can be made. There are many efforts to do this, including the work of the Clean Air Action Team formed by Gov. Herbert to explore all viable strategies to improve air quality.
Making informed choices
Just like Inspector Gadget's or Dick Tracy's watches, University of Utah (U of U) USTAR professor Hanseup Kim is developing an air quality monitoring system at the University of Utah that will be small enough to wear as a wristwatch. The device will monitor volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air so he can detect them on an individual basis. He says that polluted air has an adverse effect on health, and that his motivation is to monitor pollution for individuals.
Kim says that while the World Health Organization estimates more than 2 million people die each year from causes attributed to air pollution, there's not a lot of science to back that up.
When we talk about air pollution and its solutions, we first have to know exactly what pollutants are out there." -- Hanseup Kim, professor, University of Utah USTAR
"They announced this number based on statistics," said Kim. "There is no clear scientific connection for sure yet. That's why a lot of people are studying this. When we talk about air pollution and its solutions, we first have to know exactly what pollutants are out there."
Kim says that exposure to air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, needs to be dramatically reduced or monitored, and that is something his device can offer by providing users with information that can help them alter their behavior.
"People will be able to make decisions depending on the environment or exposure," said Kim. "So then you can immediately change your behavior. My goal as an electrical engineer is to make a micro air quality system available."
Explore further options
In addition to Zane and Kim's developing technologies, other USTAR researchers have developed technologies that promote clean air and efficient use of energy. Diffractive Spectrum Separation, developed by University of Utah professor Rajesh Menon and researchers at MIT, increases the power harnessed by solar panels, boosting its efficiency and cost effectiveness. WAVE Technologies, a Utah State University technology spin-out led by former professor Hunter Wu, is solving problems related to heavy and expensive batteries that are required by current electric vehicles through a wireless charging technology called wireless power transfer. Shelley Minteer, head of the Alternative and Renewable Energy research team at the University of Utah, is developing a biological battery technology, which will harness the energy conversion of living cells for energy storage devices and eliminate the need for metallic based batteries.
Matheson says the state government is trying to lead by example. It has purchased transit passes for all state employees within UTA territory, implemented energy efficiency measures and travel-wise programs, commuter reduction programs, an anti-idling order, and is changing the state fleet to more alternative fuel-based vehicles.
The challenge facing Utah citizens is to proactively identify a solution and collectively alter our behaviors. Can we carpool more? Reduce the number of days we drive each week? Implement cleaner technologies for industry? A difference can be made once we recognize that we are a significant part of the problem, and the effect that vehicles, industry and an ever expanding population have on our air quality.
