Pollution Reduction Tips

Travel Tips:

• Leave your car at home, walk, cycle, carpool or take public transit. Conference by phone instead of driving to meetings.
• Limit car trips by doing all your errands at once.
• Turn off the car's air conditioner. It reduces gas mileage by as much as 20 per cent.
• Avoid driving during peak traffic periods when stop-and-go traffic is at its worst, and listen to traffic reports to avoid congestion.
• Do not let your engine idle. Shut off your car while waiting for long freight trains to pass.
• Drive at moderate speeds.
• Keep your car well tuned and check your tire pressure regularly for good fuel efficiency.
• Use high octane unleaded gas in your vehicle. Premium quality gasoline produces less sulphur than the regular brands.
• Refuel your vehicle after dusk when the sun is no longer turning air pollutants from car exhaust and spilling fuel into smog. Do not overfill the tank and be careful not to spill fuel.
• Travel light. Take unnecessary items out of the trunk.
  
  

Health Tips:

• Wear light clothing at work while air conditioning is reduced.
• Avoid strenuous exercise in the heat of the day.
• Reduce your exposure to exhaust fumes by staying away from heavy traffic area when walking or cycling.
• On smog alert days, children, the elderly and people with chronic heart and lung ailments should remain indoors during the late afternoon and early evening.
  
  
  

Electricity Saving Tips:

• Conserve electricity by setting air conditioners no lower than 25°C (77°F). Fans use much less energy than air conditioners.
• Turn off lights you are not using.
  
  
  

Other Pollution Reduction Tips:

• Talk to your kids about what they can do to improve air quality.
• Restrict the use of gasoline-powered equipment. Leave lawn mowing for another day.
• Use electric-powered or manual tools, which don't produce any pollution.
• Delay using oil-based paints, solvents and cleaners.