Five Simple Steps Can Help Reduce Air Pollution
July 30, 2009 · Filed Under Events and News
As the 2010 deadline to meet federal Clean Air Act requirements approaches, the risks to our state become more urgent. If we fail to meet the standards imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the consequences are serious and far-reaching. Air pollution can do more than restrict our breathing; it can also strangle our mobility and cripple our economy.
There are five primary actions you can take to be part of the air pollution solution:
- Maintain your vehicle. Proper and timely maintenance of your car will conserve energy and reduce emissions. Maintain your vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Don’t idle. Idling wastes gas, damages pollution-control equipment on your vehicle and produces emissions that affect air quality and are also harmful. In fact, turning off the car and starting it again uses less gas and produces less emissions than idling for half a minute or more.
- Drive less. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road, especially during rush hour, means less traffic and less exhaust.
- Slow down. At high speeds the engine burns more fuel for each mile you drive, releasing higher amounts of harmful pollutants into the air. It’s safer to drive the speed limit, too.
- Drive cleaner vehicles. Ask your dealer for emissions information. Consider the emissions rates of the vehicle you buy, and select a vehicle engine combination that is a low emitter.