18 Ways You Can Fight Ozone Pollution: Be Resource-Wise
Motor vehicles continue to play a major role in ozone formation. Here are some ways to curb your car’s emissions:
- Bike, walk, carpool or ride the bus when you can, and encourage kids to do the same.
- Drive the speed limit. Driving faster than 55 m.p.h. reduces your fuel efficiency and increases the pollution your car emits.
- Consolidate trips. Plan your travel and errands to reduce mileage. You not only reduce the number of miles, but you also save additional gas by not having to fire-up a cold engine for every trip. (A cold engine consumes about 20% more fuel and emits more VOCs than a warm one.)
- Keep tires properly inflated. This alone can save up to 10% of your fuel consumption.
- Keep your car tuned and well maintained. A tuned car increases gas mileage and decreases your emissions. Proper maintenance can increase your car’s life. Avoid jackrabbit starts and sudden stops. You can save as much as two miles per gallon by accelerating gently and anticipating the need to slow down or stop.
- Turn off your engine when you stop your car for a short time. An idling engine burns 1/4 to 1/2 gallon of gas per hour. It takes less energy to restart your car than to idle for one minute.
- Use a vapor-recovery pump fill up your gas tank. Avoid topping off your tank.
- Make your next car a more fuel-efficient model.
- Lobby government officials for a good transit system, and use it.
You can reduce ozone forming emissions through day-to-day activities in your home. Here are some ways to reduce emissions:
- Use energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances.
- Turn off any appliances that you aren't using.
- Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full. Air dry dishes and clothes rather than using the dry cycle or a clothes dryer.
- In the summer, keep your thermostat set at 72 degrees or higher.
- Insulate your home, caulk windows and close off unused rooms.
- Use a push mower, hand rake or hand saw when you can. Keep gas-powered equipment well tuned. Gas-powered mowers, leaf blowers and chain saws are major air offenders.
- Avoid using lighter fluid when lighting charcoal grill because it emits VOCs. Use a paper or metal fire starting chimney device instead. Avoid using aerosol cans. They contain VOCs as the propellant.
- Plant trees. Trees not only add oxygen, they break down some pollutants, reduce dust and act as natural heat controllers, providing shade in the summer and allowing sunlight in the winter.
- Don’t burn leaves or trash. Compost or recycle instead.