Air Awareness Program - Coalition Partners - Individual Tips for Cleaner Air Everyday



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N.C. Air Awareness Program >> Coalition Partners

Individual Tips for Cleaner Air Everyday
On the Road Park and walk into drive-through locations rather than idling. Idling can waste fuel and contribute to higher ground-level ozone. Consolidate trips when you drive (e.g., do errands on the way home from work). A cold engine consumes about 20 percent more fuel than a warm one. Maintain your vehicle by getting regular tune-ups. Well maintained vehicles pollute less and get better gas mileage. Keep filters and fluids cleaned. Keep tires properly inflated. Low pressure reduces gas mileage and the life of the tire. Use high-efficiency motor oil. An "EC-II" rated oil can provide a 2.7 percent gas mileage boost. Try not to use the air conditioning in your car for local trips. Your car's air conditioner can reduce gas mileage up to 20 percent. An exception to this would be when traveling on interstates or other roads at 55 mph or faster. Under those conditions, the resistance created from open windows probably reduces gas mileage by about the same amount. Driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph can increase your mileage by over 15 percent. Buying a new car? Consider getting a model rated to get 35 mpg or more. At Home When doing yard work, try to use lawn rakes, non-motorized push mowers, and hand edgers. Try to use simple environmentally sound substitutes for cleaning and for pest control (e.g., vinegar, baking soda, and borax). Use all household products and insecticides according to the manufacturer's directions. Compost your yard wastes. When you barbecue with charcoal, start the charcoal with an electric or chimney-type fire starter instead of using lighter fluid. Insulate your home, it will reduce summer cooling costs and winter heating bills. Caulk and weather strip your doors and windows. Use ceiling fans rather than air conditioning whenever possible. Try to set the thermostat for your home air conditioner at the lowest setting that is comfortable. Close off unused areas of your home to reduce cooling needs. Buy energy efficient appliances. Use paint brushes or rollers instead of spray painting to reduce the evaporation of paint. Choose water-based paints, stains, and sealers instead of similar oil-based products. If you must use oil-based coatings, ask about the availability of low-solvent versions. Plant trees. They filter the air and shade your home to reduce cooling needs. Recycle. It takes less energy and pollution to recycle many articles than it does to make new ones from raw materials.

Individual Tips for Cleaner Air Everyday

On the Road

Park and walk into drive-through locations rather than idling. Idling can waste fuel and contribute to higher ground-level ozone.
Consolidate trips when you drive (e.g., do errands on the way home from work). A cold engine consumes about 20 percent more fuel than a warm one.
Maintain your vehicle by getting regular tune-ups. Well maintained vehicles pollute less and get better gas mileage.
- Keep filters and fluids cleaned.
- Keep tires properly inflated. Low pressure reduces gas mileage and the life of the tire.
- Use high-efficiency motor oil. An "EC-II" rated oil can provide a 2.7 percent gas mileage boost.
Try not to use the air conditioning in your car for local trips. Your car's air conditioner can reduce gas mileage up to 20 percent. An exception to this would be when traveling on interstates or other roads at 55 mph or faster. Under those conditions, the resistance created from open windows probably reduces gas mileage by about the same amount.
Driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph can increase your mileage by over 15 percent.
Buying a new car? Consider getting a model rated to get 35 mpg or more.

At Home

When doing yard work, try to use lawn rakes, non-motorized push mowers, and hand edgers.
Try to use simple environmentally sound substitutes for cleaning and for pest control (e.g., vinegar, baking soda, and borax). Use all household products and insecticides according to the manufacturer's directions.
Compost your yard wastes.
When you barbecue with charcoal, start the charcoal with an electric or chimney-type fire starter instead of using lighter fluid.
Insulate your home, it will reduce summer cooling costs and winter heating bills.
Caulk and weather strip your doors and windows.
Use ceiling fans rather than air conditioning whenever possible. Try to set the thermostat for your home air conditioner at the lowest setting that is comfortable.
Close off unused areas of your home to reduce cooling needs.
Buy energy efficient appliances.
Use paint brushes or rollers instead of spray painting to reduce the evaporation of paint.
Choose water-based paints, stains, and sealers instead of similar oil-based products. If you must use oil-based coatings, ask about the availability of low-solvent versions.
Plant trees. They filter the air and shade your home to reduce cooling needs.
Recycle. It takes less energy and pollution to recycle many articles than it does to make new ones from raw materials.