Here are the top ten things you can do to reduce air pollution on Air Aert/Ozone Watch days:
- Leave Your Car. Take LATS, carpool, walk or ride your bike to your destination.
- Cut It Out. Try not to cut the grass. Use hand-powered or electric lawn care equipment whenever possible. If you must use gas-powdered equipment wait until after 7:00 p.m.
- Do It All Together. Run errands all at one time, avoiding unnecessary cold starts. Try to wait until 10:00 a.m. but not during rush hour.
- Turn Off The AC. Not using your car’s air conditioner on morning commutes will reduce pollution and increase fuel economy.
- Take Your Lunch To Work. Walk to a nearby restaurant. This reduces the number of vehicles on the road during daylight hours.
- Wait Until Dusk. Postpone refueling your car until after 6:00 p.m. This reduces the emission during the peak daylight hours when ozone formation is most likely. Don’t top off your fuel tank.
- Avoid Excessive Idling. Postpone trips to drive-through windows or turn off the car and use the interior service area.
- Stay Tuned. Keep your car, boat, and lawn equipment tuned up. Engines that are well maintained are more fuel-efficient and pollute less. Keeping your tires properly inflated can improve gas mileage by 10%.
- Conserve Electricity. Set your thermostat at the highest temperature at which you are comfortable (try 78 degrees).
- Try Something Different. Use water-based paints and cleaners instead of solvent-based products.
If you would like to be informed when an Air Action Day has been predicted, please sign up for EnviroFlash at http://www.airnow.gov.