What Can I Do at Home?

Everyday:

• Use non-gasoline powered yard maintenance equipment, or purchase 4-stroke engine models that emit fewer emissions.
• Use household and garden chemicals wisely. Avoid using oil-based paints or other hazardous household solvents. And be sure to read labels for proper use and disposal. When painting, apply paint with rollers and brushes instead of sprayers to cut down on fumes. When cleaning, try baking soda or other "natural" products.
• Use a gas or electric grill instead of charcoal and lighter fluid when barbecuing.
• Keep you air conditioner set at 78° in the summer, and furnaces at 68° in the winter, to lessen the need for electricity from coal burning electric plants; this also uses fewer CFCs. Or just use a fan in the summer.
• Avoid purchasing furniture made of particleboard and plywood that contain many glues and chemicals that emit fumes over time.

During Ozone Action season:

• If you use a gas lawnmower, reschedule your mowing to non-Ozone Action days, or wait until evening hours. Check out the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's tips for "Clean Air Lawn Care" at: http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-aqd-Clean-Air-Lawn-Care.pdf
  
• Work at home, if possible. If you commute, walk, bicycle, take the bus, or carpool.
• Sign up for Ozone Action day email notifications or call our hotline for up-to-date information on ozone forecasts.
• Get involved with your local schools: urge your school and the local school district to develop anti-idling policies for buses.
  • http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus
  • http://www.projectgreenfleet.org
  • http://cleanschoolbus.org
  • http://www.epa.gov/otaq/smartway/idling.htm
  • http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/idle/
• Contact your Federal Senators and Representatives and let them know that you are concerned about ozone air pollution.
  • http://www.firstgov.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

What Can I Do? | Workplace | Home | On the Road

The West Michigan Clean Air Coalition is a partnership of businesses, academic institutions, government agencies, industry, and non-profit organizations in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, and Kalamazoo counties working together to achieve cleaner air in the region through the education and promotion of voluntary emission reduction activities.