10 Easy Steps for Cleaner Air
Breathing polluted air affects your lung health now and in the future. Here are some simple actions we can take to reduce air pollution and to keep the air cleaner.
- Walk, bike, carpool, or take public transit.
- Reduce heating needs by making your house more energy efficient. Find out about government programs that test your home’s energy-efficiency and give grants to help pay for the cost of improving your home’s energy efficiency.
- Say no to wood fire burning.
- Use hand-powered or battery-operated garden tools. Avoid using gasoline or diesel-powered equipment such as lawnmowers and leaf-blowers.
- Know before you go. If you need to drive, plan the most fuel efficient route using free online tool such as Google maps, taking notice of areas of construction and high traffic. Avoiding these areas can help prevent needless idling. When you must drive, combine trips and car pool.
- Check your tire pressure. Properly inflated tires improve fuel efficiency. Each 5% of under-inflation translates into a 1% decrease in fuel efficiency.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle!
- Be idle-free. Turn off your car’s engine while waiting for someone. Park and walk inside restaurants instead of waiting in drive-through lines.
- Garden without pesticides. There are many healthy and safe alternatives to harmful cosmetic pesticides.
- Get involved. Support national and local efforts to clean up the air. Contact your provincial lung association and find out what is happening in your area and how to get involved.