'Clean Air Counts' in Village of Lombard

LOMBARD, Illinois—The air we breathe may sometimes be taken for granted but the Village of Lombard is doing its part to ensure that the quality of that air makes the grade.

“Our goal is to minimize air pollution in our own operations as well as throughout the Village through public education” said Dave Gorman, Assistant Director of Lombard's Public Works Department.

The Village is active in “Clean Air Counts”, a program through the Chicagoland Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. The Village has received the bronze level award and has recently applied for the silver level based on actions including monthly clean air information on the Lombard Channel and in the Lombard Pride, using no or low-VOC paints and building maintenance materials, placing anti-idling signs at key locations in the Village, implementing an anti-idling policy for Village vehicles, and increasing the Village fleet's fuel economy. Signs have been placed at all schools, railroad crossings and the Metra station as part of an anti-idling campaign with local schools.

The Village of Lombard has been working to reduce vehicle idling since 2007. The Village has reduced fuel costs by limiting idling in its fleet as well as changing to more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Village currently has three hybrid cars and pools those cars for use by multiple drivers in order to increase their mileage. The combination of reduced idling and using more fuel-efficient vehicles has increased the fleet's miles per gallon by 15% since 2007. “It pays to turn off your engine if idling longer than 30 seconds” advises Gorman.

During the past few years, all Village departments have been looking at various ways to save money, reduce Village expenditures and combine resources yet still deliver the same quality services that Lombard residents expect to receive. Aiming to be more efficient and provide cleaner air to residents is one such example.