SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The winter inversion is trapping pollution in areas along the Wasatch Front, creating hazy conditions and diminishing air quality.

The Utah Clean Air Partnership, or UCAIR, is asking everyone in the state to make small changes to clear the air.

Those changes can include adjusting the thermostat and avoiding cold starts when you’re running errands.

The “Be Idle Free” campaign reminds us that we don’t have to leave our car running all the time if we’re just sitting there.

The pandemic was actually a huge factor for clean air. Bloomberg published a study showing emissions dropped to the lowest level in nearly 40 years. This year, those emissions are expected to tick up but will still be at about the level they were in 1990 as many in the workforce continue to telecommute.

According to a survey from the Harvard Business School, an estimated 16% of the workforce may continue to work remotely even after the pandemic ends.

In Utah, that would mean about 200,000 people would be skipping the daily commute on the state’s roads.

For more information on how to help clear the air, go to UCAIR.org.