3 Things You Can Do Right Now to Help Reduce Air Pollution
If you’re trying to live a lower-impact lifestyle, it can be hard to know where to start. Products and activities that contribute to air pollution are parts of our everyday lives, so greener choices can feel like major adjustments. But by taking it one day at a time with small, everyday changes, you can begin to lessen your footprint — and you can start right this minute.
Need a breath of fresh air? Here are three things you can do right now to reduce air pollution.
Walk with a purpose
Do you normally drive to go grocery shopping or do other errands? If you live close enough, see what it’s like walking or biking instead, if you don’t already. You’ll get your body moving and save some emissions from your car. If your walk works out, try investing in a collapsible grocery cart or wagon for bigger trips.
Even if you can’t replace all your errands with a lower-emission option, walking whenever you can will still cut your emissions, even if just a little. Plus, you’ll get to know your neighborhood better!
For trips that still require a car, there are a few steps you can take. Keep your car in good repair to reduce emissions, stack multiple errands into a single trip, and switch off your engine if you’re going to be waiting for a while, whether for a pickup or a bridge.
Swap out your light bulbs
One of the easiest ways to cut your power use is by swapping your traditional incandescent bulbs with LEDs. Sure, incandescents are cheaper right off the shelf, but they save you money on your power bill in the long run. More importantly, they typically use around 75 percent less energy.
If you can, recycle your old incandescent bulbs. Bulb recycling can be hard to find in some areas, but you can check your local hardware store for a drop box. They might be able to take your batteries, too.
Get involved locally
Making your own small choices can help make a difference, but reducing air pollution is more effective on a larger scale. Sure, you can plant one tree or ride your bike instead of driving — but it takes your community to plant a whole park full of trees and make non-driving options safer and easier to use.
While collaboration and change both take time, there are some things you can do right now, like catching up on local policies, writing letters to your local representatives, and looking up local nonprofits that focus on the environment.
Climate change is a global issue, but by working in your neighborhood, city, or county, you can make the biggest direct impact.
Alo stands for Air, Land, and Ocean — our love for nature is at the heart of everything we do. We invite you to join us for Earth Month in learning how we can use our collective voice and actions to make a difference for the planet.