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Simple Steps to Cleaner Air
Air pollution is a problem for all of us - the average person breathes about 3,400 gallons of air a day! Poor air quality may cause or worsen respiratory illness, asthma, and other health problems, and prolonged exposure to low levels of ozone can reduce a healthy adult’s lung function by 15 to 20 percent.
There are several simple steps you can take to help reduce air pollution in Middle Tennessee, on air quality alert days and all year long.
First step: Sign up for EnviroFlash e-mails so you can take action if there is an air alert day in your area.
Especially on air quality alert days:
- Make plans to carpool, or take the bus or train on air alert days.
- Try trip chaining. Combine errands and reduce or postpone trips in your car. Making one trip in the car to take care of several errands will help conserve gas and reduce pollution.
- Schedule your day to avoid driving during peak traffic times. This will keep you from being stuck in frustrating traffic, and will reduce pollution.
- Skip the drive thru, and go inside. This reduces the amount of time your car is idling, which in turn reduces the amount of wasted gas and air pollution your car is emitting.
Did you know the EPA estimates that, for every minute a typical auto engine sits idling, it emits 6.6 grams of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds, nitrous oxides, and carbon dioxide? If, over a year, 2 million drivers – which is a small percentage of U.S. drivers – stopped idling their cars unnecessarily for two minutes just once a week, it would reduce these emissions by over 1,500 TONS.
- Bring your lunch to work or walk to a nearby eatery.
- During the summer months, refuel your car after dusk. Gasoline vapor escapes into the air during refueling. Ozone concentrations are usually at their highest in the mid- to late afternoon, so it helps to refuel when it's cooler and ozone production has tapered off.
All year long:
- Stop at the click. Spilled gasoline from overfilling automobile gas tanks contributes to ozone air pollution. Stopping at the "click" - the pump's automatic shutoff - reduces spills and evaporation.
- Keep your car properly maintained, including regular tune-ups and oil changes.
- Drive smart: Accelerate gradually, use cruise control on the highway, and obey the speed limit.
- Buy an alternative fuel or hybrid vehicle, or at least a more fuel efficient one.
- Consider proximity to work and public transportation when purchasing your next home.
- Spread the word to friends, family and neighbors.
- Write to your local newspaper. Support action for cleaner air.
- Let your elected representative know you support action for cleaner air.
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