Environmental Quality Branch

AIR PROTECTION

Clearing the Air: How You Can Help

Last Updated: June 2003

A clean air day and a poor day at Okanagan Lake Bridge
Photo courtesy of the City of Kelowna

Introduction

These days, getting a breath of fresh air isn't as easy as it used to be. We've loaded the atmosphere with all kinds of pollutants that have triggered a number of serious atmospheric ills.

The atmosphere is, in effect, talking back. It's warning us that it can't sustain more of our abuse without causing harm — not only to humans but to the planetary ecosystem. Are we listening?

We now have the power to destroy the delicate balance that sustains Spaceship Earth's many kinds of life, including human beings. Saving the planet is also within our grasp, if we move swiftly and resolutely!

New Attitudes and Approaches are Crucial

To ensure a bright future for the earth and its inhabitants, we need to take a hard look at how we created our environmental problems in the first place and how we should address them. It's time to make some important changes.

The major air quality issues confronting British Columbia today are global climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, smog (ground-level ozone) and fine particulates.

These issues are interrelated, often sharing common causes (such as vehicle exhaust) and solutions. Hence it's important to deal with them as a whole rather than addressing each problem in isolation from the others. Preventing future damage is also essential. Trying to fix it after the fact is a much more difficult and costly task.

Think Globally, Act Locally

Individual action in our own community, region and province is key to reducing all kinds of air quality problems — from neighbourhood smoke to global atmospheric degradation. Each one of us plays a part in polluting the air. Equally, there's so much we can do to become part of the environmental solution!

Looking at the World through Green-Colored Glasses

It's time to examine our assumptions, habits and lifestyles from a "green" point of view: are they in tune with the environmental needs of today? Some of our time-worn beliefs and activities will need revision to make them more environmentally friendly.

Cutting down on vehicle emissions, for instance, is hampered by a common assumption: we see driving alone to work as a necessity in our fast-paced world — perhaps even a right. But since vehicle exhaust (especially from single-occupant cars during rush hour) contributes substantially to several atmospheric problems, this assumption is misguided. If we cling to it, we probably won't make much of an effort to use alternative transportation, and vehicle-caused air pollution will get worse.

It's also time to question the other preconceptions we hold dear. Do we really need all the products we see in advertisements, in view of their impact on our environment? Lowering our consumption is vitally important, as is choosing products that are more kind to the environment.

At home, we need to stop wasting energy and start conserving it. Reducing, recycling and reusing the products we once regarded as waste are just as important. And though generations before us have used fire without much concern for the environment, we can't afford to do this if we want to enjoy fresh air.

Becoming "green" will take some effort. But consider the rewards! If we all start now to take better care of our atmosphere, we can ensure fresh, clean air and a productive, beautiful planet. Here are some valuable ways YOU can help clear the air.

Getting Around

• Break the automobile addiction! Use public transit or join a carpool. Better yet, ride your bike or use your feet. Even if each of us leaves our car at home just once a week, the reduction in emissions will be substantial.
  
  
• Combine errands to save gas and reduce exhaust. Parking and walking is easier on the air than sitting with your motor running (idling) at drive-through restaurants and banks.
  
  
• When starting your car on a cold day, warm it up for only 30 seconds, and then drive it. Warming it up for any longer than that (idling) is not effective or good for your modern car, not to mention the atmosphere. (If the outside temperature is extremely cold, longer idling is appropriate.)
  

• And speaking of idling — running your engine needlessly — avoid it whenever you can. Idling for more than 10 seconds contributes to local air pollution and global warming. It also wastes fuel and money. For more information, visit Idle Free BC or the Idle-Free Zone.
  

• Slow down when you drive. You'll use less gas and thereby produce less pollution.
  
  
• Prevent gas leaks and evaporation by resisting the temptation to overfill your gas tank. Gas emits VOCs, one of the major building blocks of smog.
  
  
• Keep your vehicle engine in top condition with a regular tune-up and an annual emissions check. By the way, removing a pollution control device (such as a catalytic converter) is illegal and won't improve your car's performance.
  
  
• Use radial tires to cut down on tire drag and save gas. By inflating your tires to the manufacturer's recommended pressure you'll save up to 10% on fuel consumption.
  
  
• Rather than owning a vehicle, consider joining a car-sharing co-operative. You'll end up driving less, which is good news for the air. You'll also save money.
  
  
• Looking for a new vehicle? Go for a smaller, fuel-efficient model with low emissions. Buy for your regular use, rather than getting a larger vehicle you rarely need (and which you can rent).
  
  
• Most vehicle conditioners contain — and often leak — CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), the compounds mainly responsible for ozone layer depletion. Make sure you have your air conditioner serviced by a certified technician who recaptures the CFC and recycles it, instead of letting it loose. This is required under B.C.'s Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulation.

Home Sweet Home

• Conserve energy! Some sources indicate that Canadians use more energy, per capita, than any other people in the world. Most of our energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas). The emissions from these fuels are the primary source of carbon dioxide (CO2), the major greenhouse gas. Fossil fuel use also releases fine particulates and smog-forming pollutants.
  
  
• The home is the third biggest energy hog in the country, after industry and transportation. Most of our household energy is used for space heating, but a lot is wasted because of inefficient house construction and poor heating methods. The average Canadian home loses about a quarter of its heat through air leaks.
  
  
• It doesn't have to be this way. An energy-efficient (R-2000) house that traps passive solar energy and retains it by minimizing air leaks can reduce annual energy consumption by over half that of a conventional home. This can create substantial benefits for both the atmosphere and our energy bills.
  
  
• Set your thermostat no higher than 20°C during the day, and turn it down when you're out or asleep.
  
  
• Have your furnace serviced regularly to ensure efficient operation.
  
  
• Keep your water heater at 50°C, and use cold water whenever possible.
  
  
• To keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer, follow these tips:
  
  
  • Insulate your home effectively and install a va pour barrier.
  • Caulk or weather strip cracks and holes, as well as windows and doors.
  • Install windows that are efficient at preventing heat loss. Plastic insulating sheets that can be attached to window frames are also effective heat savers.
  • Close heating vents and doors to rooms you aren't using.
  • Plant a deciduous tree beside your home to keep out the sun in summer and let in the warmth during winter.
  • Convert to cleaner, more efficient fuels. Natural gas is an interim solution. Though it's more efficient than oil and creates fewer emissions, gas is still a fossil fuel and releases large quantities of CO₂ and other pollutants.
  • Hydroelectricity is preferable to both natural gas and oil for heating, although it has environmental repercussions, too. Solar energy is another viable option.

More Hints for a Green Lifestyle

• Avoid garden tools that run on gasoline. For example, lawnmowers that use hydroelectricity are easier on the environment than gas-powered ones.
  
  
• The best option is human energy: push a hand mower, and use a rake instead of a leaf blower. Your neighbors will appreciate the peace and quiet, and your body will get a free workout!
  
  
• Paint with water-based (latex) paint rather than the oil-based variety. Oil-based paint contains three to five times more toxic solvents than latex.
  
  
• Close paint cans tightly. An open 4.5 lit re can of paint emits up to a kilogram of VOCs by the time all the paint has dried up.
  
  
• Steer clear of aerosol cans containing products such as paint, deodorant and hair spray. The gases that make the product shoot out contribute to smog.
  
  
• Buy products with less packaging. It takes a lot of energy to make packaging, and VOCs are generated during the printing process. More packaging also means more solid waste, putting an extra strain on our landfills.
  
  
• Large amounts of CFCs are used as the coolant in refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners. If your appliance is leaking CFC (or isn't working well), get it repaired as soon as possible to avoid further ozone depletion. Make sure your service technician is properly certified and recovers the CFC safely. This is required under B.C.'s Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulation.
  
  
• Plant trees. Besides providing shade, trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They also break down some pollutants and reduce dust.

Where There's Fire, There's Smoke

• Stop smoking! In this case, we're talking about the smoke that comes from wood burning, and the incineration of garbage and garden refuse.
  
  
• Wood smoke is much like cigarette smoke, containing a mixture of tiny particles (called "fine particulates") and gases. Fine particulates are small enough to be breathed into the deepest reaches of our lungs. They are associated with serious (sometimes fatal) breathing and heart disorders. Fine particulates also tend to pick up other hazardous pollutants, giving them a free ride into the lungs.
  
  
• Besides, the stuff we frequently toss into the fire shouldn't be wasted! Leaves, clippings and branches can be reused — to make compost or wood chips (mulch), for example.
  
  
• Instead of burning your garden leftovers, start a backyard compost. Some cities have community composts that you can use.
  
  
• Don't burn your garbage or building materials (e.g. plastics, rubber, painted wood, paper and cardboard). These can release very toxic substances when they are burned. Reduce your waste by avoiding over-packaging. And recycle everything you can.
  
  
• When you burn wood, make sure the combustion is efficient, releasing the least possible amount of smoke. Here are some points to keep in mind:
  
  
  • Wet or green wood produces a lot of smoke. Wood should be properly seasoned in a dry place for at least six months.
  • Avoid wood that is treated, painted, or laden with salt from exposure to sea water.
  • Buy an efficient, certified wood stove that's just the right size for your home. Install and operate it correctly. Overloading your stove or starving the fire of air are both harmful.
    
    
• Think of your neighbors' health, not to mention your own — don't burn when the smoke won't dissipate from the area, such as on cold, clear and calm nights (nocturnal inversion). Be aware of the "no-burn" periods in your community, and don't bend the rules!

Extend Your Commitment to Community Action

• Spread the news! Tell your friends and neighbors how they can help protect the environment. Your own example and gentle persuasion can really count.
  
  
• Whenever you shop, make choices for the environment. Cut down your consumption, first of all. Buy environmentally friendly products — encourage retailers to stock them and get rid of more harmful products.
  
  
• Contact your elected representatives to express your concerns and ideas about air quality.
  
  
• Ask your employer to consider starting a carpool and switching to alternative work patterns — for example, compressed work weeks and working at home (telecommuting).
  
  
• Support urban planning that lowers automobile use. Options include:
  
  
  • promoting bicycle use and bike paths;
  • improving public transit systems; and
  • developing vehicle-free areas.
    

  We all need clean air.      Forever.

For More Information:

Environmental Quality Branch
Ministry of Environment
Government of British Columbia

PO Box 9341
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada V8W 9M1
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/air