How to Improve Air Quality

It's summer in Los Angeles and the air quality plummets, which brought me to look through our 11th Hour Action Community to see what there is about cleaning up our air.  And I found 10 pointers from the South Coast Air Quality Management District which are well worth reading.   So, if you want to improve air quality in your area, here's what you do:

10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP CLEAN THE AIR IN YOUR AREA

We offer the following suggestions on how you can join the South Coast Air Quality Management District in “Cleaning the Air That We Breathe.” Together, we are making a difference.

1) Motor vehicles are responsible for more than half of all smog-forming emissions. When buying your next vehicle, consider choosing one of the lowest-polluting models available. For more information, go to www.cleanairchoices.org
2) AQMD relies on feedback from businesses and the general public to help design its regulations and programs. Help shape the region’s path to clean air by joining the AQMD Clean Air Congress. For more information, call 1-800-CUT-SMOG.
3) Some older vehicles and those that are improperly maintained emit at least 20 times more pollution than newer models in good working order. Report smoking vehicles and suspected air pollution violations by calling 1-800-CUT-SMOG.
4) Vehicles in the Southland traveled 336 million miles in 200, and the increased congestion slowed travel to an average of 38 mph on freeways and arterial streets. Help cut pollution by driving less. Consider carpooling to work one day a week or more. Combine shopping errands into one trip or shop by phone, mail or the Internet. Also drive smart by avoiding “jack rabbit” starts, obeying the speed limit and using cruise control to maintain a steady speed.
5) Dry cleaners in the region emit about 850 tons a year of a toxic chemical called perchloroethylene. Try non-toxic alternatives to dry cleaning such as professional wet cleaning.
6) During the energy crisis, Californians did a better than expected job at conservation. If you haven’t already, choose from the many options available to conserve energy—and save money—such as using compact fluorescent light bulbs, using the microwave to cook small meals and buying energy-efficient appliances when you replace old ones.
7) Painting homes and other structures causes more than 50 tons per day of smog-forming pollutants—five times the amount from all the oil refineries in the South Coast of California. Read paint labels and choose coatings that contain little or no smog-forming pollutants, identified as volatile organic compounds or VOCs.
8) Energy needed for summertime air conditioning boosts power plant emissions. Plant a tree to help shad your home and cool it naturally.
9) In one year of operation, one older gasoline-powered lawn mower pollutes as much as a new car driven 86,000 miles. Help cut pollution by purchasing an electric mower when you replace your gasoline-powered model.
10) While many Southern Californians enjoy a summer cookout, traditional barbecues can be a significant source of air pollution. A simple solution is to replace your old barbecue with a natural gas grill. Some local utilities even offer rebates when purchasing gas grills.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO AT

www.cleanairchoices.org