A cutting-edge ‘Smogmobile’ will be visiting Westminster for London Climate Action Week to raise awareness of air pollution and to discourage idling in the city.
Westminster Council’s Smart City and Climate Emergency teams have partnered with Enviro Technology, who have created a mobile air quality monitoring lab which can track emissions in real time both inside and outside the vehicle.
It measures nitrogen dioxide emissions, particulate matter and greenhouse gases to demonstrate the health risks created by pollution from vehicles and engine idling.
The air pollution readings can be viewed in real time which allows the council to raise awareness and educate our communities on vehicle pollutants.
Westminster’s air marshals will be joining on the day to talk to members of the public about the health implications of idling and to encourage drivers to switch off their engines when they are not moving.Image
The Smogmobile is part of Westminster’s Smart City approach of utilising tech to engage and empower our communities to drive behaviour change.
The Smogmobile will be visiting Westminster on Tuesday 28th June, and will be stationed outside Charing Cross Station from 8:30-11am, and on St John’s Wood High Street from 1-4pm.
Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality, said: “Air pollution impacts all of us, and as a council, we are committed to improving air quality to create a safer environment for our residents and visitors.
“We are working closely with our partners and communities to highlight how poor quality can affect our health and to encourage people to take action.
“We all need to make changes to our lifestyle and we are making that easier for our residents with more than 1,000 electric vehicle charging points in the city, by introducing School Streets to encourage active forms of travel and by emphasising the benefits of prioritising retrofitting over demolition.”
Duncan Mounsor, Managing Director of Enviro Technology Services Ltd, said: “Modern air pollution is all around us and are largely invisible. Often you can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but it is there none-the-less, and sometimes at levels that are dangerous to our health and wellbeing.
“Thankfully the cutting-edge instruments onboard the Smogmobile can ‘see’ air pollution and greenhouse gases and help inform us on how good (or bad) the air quality is. Being a mobile laboratory, we can measure pretty much anywhere where measurements are required gathering data and at the same time raising public awareness.”
