Duke Energy is one of approximately 50 companies in Charlotte-Mecklenburg North Carolina who are participating in a voluntary ozone reduction action program. The intent of the program is to help reduce ozone forming air emissions during the "ozone season" months, which are May-September. Duke’s plan combines operational and employee initiatives. Duke Energy employees are encouraged to take one or more of the following actions on days that are projected to be code orange, red, or purple ozone days:

1. Ride the bus, carpool, vanpool, bicycle or walk to work. A bus carrying 20 passengers emits about one-tenth the amount of hydrocarbon pollutants that would be emitted if those 20 people each drove a car instead of riding the bus.
   
2. Refuel your personal vehicle between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. if you must refuel your car on a code orange, red, or purple ozone day.
    
3. Walk to lunch, or carpool with others, or use the city's mass transit system if you go out for lunch.
    

4. Postpone running errands that require the use of your car, if possible.

5. Postpone mowing grass with a gas powered mower and postpone using other gas powered lawn equipment such as weed-eaters. If you must use gas powered lawn equipment, do so after 7:00 p.m. in the evening.

6. Keep your car's engine properly tuned, and maintain proper tire pressure to minimize fuel use and emissions.

7. Park and go inside rather than using drive through windows at restaurants and banks. Turning your car engine off and on uses less gas than letting an engine idle for 30 seconds.

The key organizations Duke Energy has partnered with in this endeavor are: The Mecklenburg County Division of Air Quality, the Charlotte Area Transit System, and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.