How can you help reduce air pollution in our country?

Help attract attention to the cause.  Tell people you know that you hate the environmental pollution in our city and that you would like to get better.  You'll never meet a person who isn't slightly disgusted by the haze above the Phoenix skyline, once it is pointed out to them.

Support politicians who support environmentally friendly legislation.  We need laws that dramatically reduce the acceptable amount of car pollution that our vehicles produce.

Support businesses who show environmentally friendly practices.  You will find a list of both on this site.

Reduce the amount you drive and buy a car that gets more miles to the gallon.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), driving a car is the single most polluting thing that most of us do. Motor vehicles emit millions of tons of pollutants into the air each year. In many urban areas, motor vehicles are the single largest contributor to ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. Ground-level ozone is the most serious air pollution problem in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states. Cars also emit several pollutants classified as toxics, which cause as many as 1,500 cases of cancer in the country each year. Auto emissions also contribute to the environmental problems of acid rain and global warning.

The most important decision residents of the Phoenix metropolitan area can make is to live closer to work.  If everyone in Phoenix moved 15 miles closer to work, 2 billion gallons of gas would be saved, saving our population almost 6 billion dollars and virtually eliminating air pollution in the city.  As an individual, by moving 15 miles closer to work you stand to save around $1500 per year.  A side bonus of moving closer to work is having extra free time every day.

You can help to reduce air pollution by driving a car that gets at least 35 miles a gallon, walking, bicycling, and using mass transit when possible. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, make your home more energy efficient, and buy only energy efficient appliances. Recycle newspapers, aluminum, and other materials. Plant trees and avoid purchasing products such as Styrofoam that contain CFCs. Support much stricter clean air laws and enforcement of international treaties to reduce ozone depletion and slow global warming.

Earth is everybody's home and nobody likes living in a dirty home. Together, we can make the earth a cleaner, healthier and more pleasant place to live.

Drivers can help reduce motor vehicle emissions in the following ways:

• Reducing the number of vehicle miles traveled by carpooling, using public transportation, and planning ahead to combine trips. A person using public transit for one year, instead of driving to work, can reduce their air pollution output by an average of 9.0 pounds of hydro carbons, 63 pounds of carbon monoxide, and 5 pounds of nitrogen oxides
   
• Traveling at moderate, steady speeds (ideally between 35 and 45 miles per hour), and reducing idling time. High speeds result in greater emissions. Idling for more than half a minute burns more gas than it takes to restart the engine. Avoid drive-through windows.
   
• Keeping vehicles in good running condition. Poorly maintained or malfunctioning vehicles can release as much as 10 times the emissions of a well-maintained one. Motorists should follow the manufacturer's instructions on routine maintenance, such as oil and filter changes. Use an energy saving grade of motor oil (labeled ECII or Energy Conserving II).

   

  • Don't tamper with the pollution controls and have the vehicle inspected regularly.
  • Keep track of gas milleage. A loss in milleage usually means an increase in emissions. Poorly inflated tires can also cause a loss in fuel economy.
  • Watch the fumes. If they are black, there is too much gas in the mixture and the fuel injection system must be adjusted.   If the exhaust is blue colored, the car is burning oil and releasing excess hydrocarbons.
  • Fix air conditioning leaks immediately.
  • Pay attention to dashboard warning lights. Have the car checked out as soon as possible.

   

• Not topping off the tank when refueling. Make sure the gas cap fits properly to avoid spills.

   

• Using clean fuels, when available. Clean fuels include reformulated gasoline, oxygenated gasoline, and alternative fuels. The EPA estimates that reformulated gasoline reduces ozone-forming emissions and toxic air pollutants by 15 to 17 percent. Reformulated gasoline will be required in areas where ozone levels exceed the federal health standard.

   

  • Oxygenated gasoline is federally mandated in areas that do not meet the federal health standard for carbon monoxide. It contains at least 2.7 percent oxygen on average. It is sold during the colder months of the year when carbon monoxide is more of a problem.
  • Alternatively fueled vehicles run on a variety of fuels, including methanol, ethanol, compress natural gas, and electricity, all of which reduce emissions.