Sign up for a chance to receive a free electric mower | Environment

Lexington County, Richland County, the City of Columbia, S.C. DHEC the Central Midlands Council of Governments has partnered to provide a free electric mower to a citizen in the Central Midlands Region who signs up for the air quality forecast via EnviroFlash by August 1, 2012.

EnviroFlash (www.enviroflash.info) is an e-mail alert system that delivers air quality information straight to your inbox. Once subscribers sign up and fill in their basic information, like e-mail address and ZIP code, they will receive daily alerts with the local Air Quality Index (AQI) forecasts. They will also receive alerts when ozone or particle pollution is expected to be unhealthy. You can also sign up for EnviroFlash by following @MidlandsRegion on Twitter.

Ground level ozone forms when pollutants emitted by cars, lawn and garden equipment, power plants, chemical plants and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight. At ground level, ozone is a harmful air pollutant. During hot, sunny months, ozone becomes a greater concern.

EnviroFlash alerts can help people stay better informed of the risks associated with unhealthy ozone levels. Groups most susceptible to the risks include children, older adults, people with respiratory or heart diseases and people who are active outdoors. However, when ozone levels are very high, it is a concern for everyone. More information about ground level ozone can be found at www.scdhec.gov/ozone.

The goal of the giveaway is to increase public awareness about the health effects of air pollution. One lucky EnviroFlash subscriber who signs up before August 1, 2012 will have the opportunity to take action to improve air quality by switching to an electric lawn mower. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a push mower emits as much pollution per hours as 11 cars and a riding mower, as much as 34 cars. The winner will have the multiple benefit of a new lawn mower that doesn’t require oil changes, gas, or the smell and improves air quality.