50 things you can do for cleaner air

Earth911

Friday, July 25, 2008

Drive Less, Drive Smart

About half of the air pollution comes from cars and trucks. Two important ways to reduce air pollution are to drive less — even a little less — and to drive smart. Try combining driving with alternative modes of transportation:

1. Carpool.

2. Walk or ride a bicycle.

3. Shop by phone or mail.

4. Ride public transit.

5. Telecommute.

Driving smart keeps pollution at a minimum. *

6. Accelerate gradually.

7. Use cruise control on the highway.

8. Obey the speed limit.

9. Combine your errands into one trip.

10. Keep your car tuned and support the smog check program.

11. Don’t top off at the gas pumps.

12. Replace your car’s air filter.

13. Keep your tires properly inflated.

14. What about smoking vehicles? Contact the EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards.

* What you do when you are stuck in traffic and not “driving” can be very important as well. Consider turning your engine off if you will be idling for long periods of time.

That’s not all. When shopping for your next car…

15. Look for the most efficient, lowest polluting model–or even use either a non-polluting car or zero emission vehicle. Visit these web sites for information that will help you identify clean and fuel efficient vehicles in any part of the country:

* EPA’s Green vehicle Guide

* The DOE/EPA Fuel Economy Guide

* The U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Site

If you must drive on days with unhealthy air, drive your newest car. Newer cars generally pollute less than older models.

Choose Air-Friendly Products

Many products you use in your home, in the yard, or at the office are made with smog-forming chemicals that escape into the air. Here are a few ways to put a lid on products that pollute:

16. Select products that are water-based or have low amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

17. Use water-based paints. Look for paints labeled “zero-VOC.”

18. Paint with a brush, not a sprayer.

19. Store solvents in air-tight containers.

20. Use a push or electric lawn mower.

21. Start your barbecue briquettes with an electric probe, or use a propane or natural gas barbecue.

Save Energy

Saving energy helps reduce air pollution. Whenever you burn fossil fuel, you pollute the air. Use less gasoline, natural gas, and electricity (power plants burn fossil fuels to generate electricity):

22. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

23. Replace energy hungry incandescent lights with fluorescent lighting.

24. Check with your utility company for energy conservation tips, like purchasing energy saving appliances.

25. Use a thermostat that automatically turns off the air conditioner or heater when you don’t need them.

26. Add insulation to your home.

27. Use a fan instead of air conditioning.

28. Use an EPA-approved wood burning stove or fireplace insert.

29. Heat small meals in a microwave oven.

30. Insulate your water heater.

31. Install low flow showerheads.

32. Dry your clothes on a clothesline.

Waste Not

It takes energy to make and sell the products we use. Here are ways to cut energy use, reduce air pollution, and save money.

33. Choose recycled products.

34. Choose products with recyclable packaging.

35. Reuse paper bags.

36. Recycle paper, plastics, and metals.

37. Print and photocopy on both sides of the paper.

Watch out for the small stuff

When you breathe, very small particles — such as dust, soot, and acid droplets — can slip past your lung’s natural defense system. These particles get stuck deep in your lungs and may cause problems — more asthma attacks, bronchitis and other lung diseases, decreased resistance to infections, and even premature death for the elderly or sick. Here are a few things you can do to reduce particulate matter pollution and protect yourself: