EEK! -What can YOU do?

What can YOU do?

Do a little...Save a lot!

There are lots of things you can do on an Air Quality Advisory Day (or any day!) to keep air pollution levels down. Keep this list handy for Air Quality Advisory Days and share it with friends and family.

[activities]

Turn off appliances you aren't using. This includes lights, stereos, computers, and TVs. Better yet, do something inside that doesn't require electricity, like playing a board game. Don't forget to uplug MP3 players and cell phones after charging them. Saving energy means that coal-burning and other types of power plants will emit less pollution by not having to produce as much electricity.
Bike, walk, carpool, rollerblade, skateboard, or ride the bus to get wherever you need to go.
Plant trees - they help clean the air!
Don't burn leaves or trash. Campfires are ok, but be sure to only burn wood.
Encourage your family to do all your errands on the same trip to save gas and to avoid lots of 'cold starts.' Car engines use more gas to warm up after being allowed to sit for a while.
Encourage your parents to turn off the engine when they stop the car for a short time. Leaving a car idling creates more pollution and uses more gas than starting it up again after you've stopped.
Use a push mower or an electric mower instead of a gas-powered lawn mower. If you have to use a gas-powered mower, wait until after 6 p.m. when the air is cooler
If you have air-conditioning ask your parents to set the thermostat at 72 degrees or higher.
Ask your parents to buy energy efficient light bulbs and appliances.
Avoid using aerosol cans - many contain VOCs an air pollutant bad for the environment.

Now that you've read the list of things you can do, test your knowledge by playing the Hot Summer Days Quizzler.