Ten things you can do at home to reduce smog

Adding insulation to your home, including to your hot water heater(s) and accessible piping, will increase energy efficiency and reduce air pollution.Use a programmable thermostat to control the temperature in your house. Some units today can even be programmed to control individual rooms. Try to keep it set at 68 º F in the winter and 78 º F in the summer.One way to help reduce air pollution is to replace incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient fluorescents. They use less energy for the same amount of light, thus reducing emissions from the power plants.View the list »
Turn in your charcoal barbecue grill and use a natural gas or propane fired barbecue grill. You won't need to use lighter fluid and propane burns much cleaner than charcoal.

Environment newsletter

The air we breathe in Bakersfield is about as bad as it gets anywhere in the nation. Government regulators are trying to improve it. There are federal air pollution regulations that target different industries and equipment, California regulations that do the same thing, and local air pollution control agencies that have their own rules as well.

Related topics

Advertisement

These agencies target vehicle manufacturers, refineries, chemical plants, oil companies, and power plants. However, these sources aren't the only ones that generate air pollutants that can form smog. Each of us generate our own emissions from everyday activities in and around our own homes.

So rather than complain about how that big oil company or that power plant is generating air pollution, why don't we all look around where we live and what we do around the house? There are lots of things we can do, some very simple, that can reduce emissions and help to improve the air that we breathe.

Here are ten of them:

View the list
  • Turn in your charcoal barbecue grill and use a natural gas or propane fired barbecue grill. You won't need to use lighter fluid and propane burns much cleaner than charcoal.
  • One way to help reduce air pollution is to replace incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient fluorescents. They use less energy for the same amount of light, thus reducing emissions from the power plants.
  • Use a programmable thermostat to control the temperature in your house. Some units today can even be programmed to control individual rooms. Try to keep it set at 68 º F in the winter and 78 º F in the summer.
  • Adding insulation to your home, including to your hot water heater(s) and accessible piping, will increase energy efficiency and reduce air pollution.
  • If you're using an old washer and dryer, considering purchasing one of the new energy efficient units such as those shown here. You'll reduce air pollution and lower your utility bills as well.
  • Use a paint brush if you need to paint things around the house instead of using a spray gun. It might take a little longer, but, you'll use less paint because you'll eliminate overspray.
  • If you use a gas powered mower to mow your lawn, then consider switching to an electric one, or even a push model. You'll eliminate a lot of emissions that way and may even be able to get financial support from your local air pollution control agency.
  • Instead of using a gas powered leaf blower to clean things up after yard work, use a rake or a broom instead. You'll eliminate the air pollution from the blower motor and get some more exercise too.
  • One way to help reduce air pollution around the home is to plant a tree. They filter out air pollutants, absorb CO2, and provide shade that can reduce energy requirements to keep your house cool.
  • Use a gas fired fireplace instead of one that burns wood. Particulate pollution from wood burning is a severe problem in the San Joaquin Valley. During bad air days, you won't even be allowed to use a wood burning fireplace.
View the list
Suggested by the author:

, Bakersfield Environmental News Examiner

Mr. Maccioli has over 30 years of experience working for government agencies, consulting firms, and industry as an environmental engineer/compliance specialist. He has a Masters degree in Environmental Pollution Control and is the co-author of a book on toxic air pollution. Although semi-retired,...

Advertisement

Today's top buzz...