May 2006

May is Clear Air Month

What can one person do?
Air pollution can affect the environment and your health.  There are things everyone can do to keep the air clean and reduce pollutants.  There are also precautionary steps you can take to protect your health and the health of those around you.

1. Choose a cleaner commute - walk, bike, car pool or take the bus instead of driving your car whenever you can. 
2. Combine car trips - drop off the video and stop at the grocery store on the way home from work or school.
3. Combine your errands into one trip instead of several separate trips. 
4. Keep your car tuned up and your tires properly inflated.  You will get better gas mileage and reduce pollution with proper care of your car.
5. Conserve energy and electricity - Use compact fluorescent light bulbs and turn off lights when not needed.  Set your thermostat a little higher in the  summer and lower in the winter.  Buy energy-efficient appliances.
6. Buy less toxic products when purchasing paints and cleaning products - properly seal containers to avoid evaporation into the air.  Avoid using insecticides and pesticides if possible.
7. Smoke only in designated areas - The new CBC campus policy limits smoking to areas 50 feet from building openings, (i.e., doors, air intakes, windows). WAC132S-50-195 - be considerate of others with health issues by minimizing smoke and pollutants from tobacco.  
8. Be proactive about clean air - tell your family, friends and coworkers about the importance of clean air and maintaining the health of our environment.

  By working together we can all help protect the air we share.