Clean Air

Things You Can Do For Cleaner Air

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. Taking fewer trips in your car or truck helps cut air pollution. And adopting smart driving habits reduces your car's emissions.

Driving less doesn't mean you have to stay home. Try combining driving with alternative modes of transportation:

Carpool.
Walk or ride a bicycle.
Shop by phone or mail.
Ride public transit.
Telecommute.
Driving smart keeps pollution at a minimum. *

Accelerate gradually.
Use cruise control on the highway.
Obey the speed limit.
Combine your errands into one trip.
Keep your car tuned and support the smog check program.
Don't top off at the gas pumps.
Replace your car's air filter.
Keep your tires properly inflated.
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...

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:

Select products that are water-based or have low amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Use water-based paints. Look for paints labeled "zero-VOC."
Paint with a brush, not a sprayer.
Store solvents in air-tight containers.
Use a push or electric lawn mower.
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):

Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Replace energy hungry incandescent lights with fluorescent lighting.
Check with your utility company for energy conservation tips, like purchasing energy saving appliances.
Use a thermostat that automatically turns off the air conditioner or heater when you don't need them.
Add insulation to your home.
Use a fan instead of air conditioning.
Use an EPA-approved wood burning stove or fireplace insert.
Heat small meals in a microwave oven.
Insulate your water heater.
Install low flow showerheads.
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.

Choose recycled products.
Choose products with recyclable packaging.
Reuse paper bags.
Recycle paper, plastics, and metals.
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:

Don't use your wood stove or fireplace on days with unhealthy air.
Avoid using leaf blowers and other types of equipment that raise a lot of dust. Use a rake or broom instead.
Drive slowly on unpaved roads.
Drive less, particularly on days with unhealthy air.
Avoid vigorous physical activity on days with unhealthy air.

Know The Inside Story
Air pollution is a problem indoors and out. Most people spend at least 80 percent of their lives indoors. Here are some ways you can reduce pollution in your home, office or school:

Don't smoke. Send smokers outside.
Products such as cleaning agents, paints, and glues often contain harmful chemicals. Use them outdoors or with plenty of ventilation indoors.
Use safer products, such as baking soda instead of harsher chemical cleaners.
Don't heat your home with a gas cooking stove.
Have your gas appliances and heater regularly inspected and maintained.
Clean frequently to remove dust and molds.
Visit EPA's Indoor Air Quality Home Page for more information.


Speak Up For Clean Air
Do what you can to reduce air pollution. It will make a difference. Use your civic influence to improve regional and national air pollution standards:

Write to your local newspaper. Support action for healthy air.
Let your elected representative know you support action for clean air.

TOP TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SAVE THE CLIMATE

TOP TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SAVE THE CLIMATE


These 10 steps will take you a long way toward reducing your energy use and your monthly budget. And less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that contribute to global warming.

10) Be an Informed Consumer

Learn more about environmental issues so that you can make wise choices for yourself and your family.

9) Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company

Many utility companies provide home energy audits to help consumers identify areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient. In addition, many utility companies offer rebate programs to help pay for the cost of energy-efficient upgrades.

8) Don’t Leave the Water Running

Remember to turn off the water when you’re not using it. For example, while brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog, or soaping up your car, turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. You’ll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital natural resource.

7) Turn Down Your Appliances

Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save water. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry.

6) Buy Energy-Efficient Products

When it’s time to buy a new car, choose one that gives you the best gas mileage. Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are now designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs.

5) Leave the Car at Home Whenever You Can

Less driving means fewer emissions. And besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Explore your community’s mass transit system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school.

4) Insulate Your Home

Add extra insulation to your walls and attic, and install weather stripping or caulk around doors and windows. This step alone can reduce your home heating costs by more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home.

3) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle: paper, plastic, newspaper, and aluminum cans. If there isn’t a recycling program at your work, school, or in your community, ask about starting one.

2) Conserve Electricity

The most environmentally-friendly kilowatt of energy is the one that is never generated. Turn off your lights when you’re not in the room. Replace your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent ones. Plug your appliances into power strips that you can turn off when not in use. Appliances that are plugged in but not in use still suck electricity out of the grid. In fact, ten percent of California’s energy use comes from these “vampire losses.”


AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:

1) Get Political!!!!

Changing your habits is a necessary step but in order to avoid the most devastating impacts of global warming we’re going to have to do more than change some lightbulbs; we’re going to have to get political! Your elected officials represent you, but it’s up to you to make sure that they know what you want. Write them letters, hold constituent meetings. Find a local climate group and join it. None in your area? Start one. USCEC is holding trainings across the country on how to build a grassroots climate group. We need a people’s revolution and that means we need YOU to get involved!



Source: http://www.climateemergency.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=56