Air Emissions - How Can I Reduce My Pollution?

1. Don’t top off the tank when refueling. Also make sure the gas cap fits properly to avoid spills.

2. Keep vehicles in good running condition. Poorly maintained or malfunctioning vehicles can release as much as 10 times the emissions of a well-maintained one.

- Use an energy saving grade of motor oil (labeled ECII or Energy Conserving II) and change your oil & filters according to manufacturer instructions.

- Don't tamper with the pollution controls and have the vehicle inspected regularly.

- Keep track of fuel economy. A loss in gas mileage usually means an increase in emissions. Poorly inflated tires can also cause a loss in fuel economy.

- Watch the exhaust. If it is black, there is too much gas in the mixture. If the exhaust is blue, the car is burning oil and releasing excess hydrocarbons. Either way, have the car checked out soon if these happen!

- Fix air conditioning leaks immediately and pay attention to dashboard warning lights. Have the car checked out as soon as possible.

3. Reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled by carpooling, using public transportation, and planning ahead to combine trips. One person using mass transit for an entire year (instead of driving to work) can keep an average of 9.1 pounds of hydrocarbons, 62.5 pounds of carbon monoxide, and 4.9 pounds of nitrogen oxides from being discharged into the air. A 10% nationwide increase in transit ridership would save 135 million gallons of gasoline a year.

4. Travel at moderate, steady speeds, and reduce idling time. Higher speeds result in greater emissions. Idling for more than half a minute burns more gas than it takes to restart the engine. Try to avoid drive-through windows.

5. Use clean fuels, when available. Clean fuels include reformulated gasoline, oxygenated gasoline, and alternative fuels. The EPA estimates that reformulated gasoline reduces ozone-forming emissions and toxic air pollutants by 15 to 17 percent, and will soon be required in areas where ozone levels exceed federal health standards.

- Oxygenated gasoline contains at least 2.7 percent oxygen on average. It is sold during the colder months of the year when carbon monoxide is more of a problem.

- Alternatively fueled vehicles run on a variety of fuels, including methanol, ethanol, compress natural gas, and electricity, all of which reduce emissions.

6. Go with newer, less polluting cars. When buying a car:

- Check the posted fuel-efficiency rating. The greater the efficiency, the lower the carbon dioxide emissions per mile.

- Older cars pollute more. When buying a used car, have a mechanic check the catalytic converter and other pollution controls to be sure they are ---------------working properly. Be sure to keep the vehicle well maintained.

- Low-emission vehicles, sometimes called "California cars," will increasingly become available over the next several years. These vehicles are different because they have additional emissions control equipment.