All this talk of Air Pollution may leave you wondering - what can I personally do to reduce these negative effects and help towards creating a healthier, pollutant free environment? The Environmental Protection Agency provides a variety of resources that allow you to track your impact on the environment. Their website includes a Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator that translates abstract energy and emissions numbers into terms you can understand. It also includes a Carbon Footprint Calculator that allows you to measure your household carbon footprint, and gives suggestions on how to reduce your footprint. Using these resources can help you better understand your direct impact on air quality.
What can be done to reduce your impact? Here is a list to help you in the future:
- Conserve energy – remember to turn off lights, computers, and electric appliances when not in use
- Use energy efficient light bulbs and appliances
- Participate in your local utility’s energy conservation programs
- Limit driving by carpooling, using public transportation, biking and walking
- Combine errands for fewer trips
- Use electric or hand-powered lawn care equipment
- Be careful not to spill gasoline when filling up your car or gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment
- Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full
- Choose environmentally friendly cleaners
- Use water-based or solvent free paints whenever possible and buy products that say "low VOC"
- Seal containers of household cleaners, workshop chemicals and solvents, and garden chemicals to prevent volatile organic compounds from evaporating into the air
- Purchase and use low-polluting outboard marine engines and personal watercraft (4-stroke and direct fuel injection 2-stroke outboard marine engines)
- Advocate for emission reductions from power plants and more stringent national vehicle emission standards
Sources:
Measuring your impact: https://www.epa.gov/energy/measure-impact-your-energy-use-environment
Reducing your impact: https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/tsb/ams/aqmdp/share.htm
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