Easy Ways to Improve Air Quality

Arguably the best thing about adopting a more environmentally conscious lifestyle, aside from the benefits to the planet, is the relative ease of making those lifestyle adjustments. Many of the things everyday citizens can do to help the environment are relatively minor in effort, but highly effective. Such is the case with a host of things environmentally conscious men and women can do to improve air quality. Even those living in cities where air quality routinely receives high marks can make a handful of easy changes to improve the air quality even more. * Take out the trash. Items throughout a typical household, including solvents, pesticides and even paint, can damage the air because of their chemical composition. Whenever disposing of such products, be aware of and obey all local laws. When storing any of the aforementioned items, make sure they’re properly sealed, be it in an airtight container or in accordance with the recommended storage guidelines on the package. * Become a Mr. or Mrs. Fix-It. Leaky household appliances, be it an air conditioner or refrigeration system, could be sending harmful gases into the sky. Be sure to examine household appliances for leaks once a year, and fix any leaks immediately upon their discovery. Ignoring a leaky appliance sets off a chain reaction, making an appliance inefficient and likely leading to higher utility bills while simultaneously harming the environment. * Even those who don’t know which end of a hammer to use can become a Mr. or Mrs. Fix-It without breaking a sweat. Inspect filters on all air conditioners around the house and clean or replace dirty or old filters. A dirty filter will require the air conditioner to work harder to cool a room, causing homeowners to turn the unit up and subsequently increase the energy bill. Cleaning or replacing dirty or old filters also reduces the emissions going out into the air. * Put on a sweater or open a window depending on the weather. Air conditioners and heating systems, while essential, can prove harmful to air quality. Most regions of the country have harsh winters or summers, so it’s not realistic to make it through either season without turning on the A/C or turning up the heat. However, when the seasons are moderate, put on a sweater or open a window and use a fan instead of cranking the heat or A/C. * Don’t forget to recycle. Many households still don’t recycle, in spite of the overwhelming evidence of the benefits of recycling. During the production of items such as plastics, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans, harmful emissions are produced and sent into the air. But recycling leads to less production of such items and therefore less harmful emissions. * Ride to work with a friend. Fuel costs will likely never return to the low levels of the turn of the century. That said, carpooling to work has never been more advantageous. Workers can share the weekly gas tab with at least one other person while substantially decreasing the amount of harmful emissions vehicles send into the air each day. Consider that a carpool of four people reduces harmful emissions normally produced by 75 percent. * Invest in your vehicle. More and more people are looking to get more mileage out of their vehicles in light of the economic downturn the country has been in for more than a year. That said, taking better care of your car can help accomplish that goal while also paying dividends for the environment. Poorly inflated tires, dirty air filters and even personal driving habits can have a negative impact on the efficiency of a vehicle. Rapid acceleration burns more fuel, as does frequent stop- and-go driving. A dirty air filter forces the engine work harder while reducing fuel efficiency. Obeying manufacturer guidelines can help avoid all of these problems, saving drivers money while improving air quality at the same time.