How can I make a difference reducing air pollution? Here’s 10 ways!

Originally published at www.airvisual.com.

There are countless ways to reduce your emissions footprint. Here are our top 10 tips to inspire you to make changes in your daily life.

You may not realize it, but unless you live off the grid, eat your meals raw, wear a loincloth, and walk to work, you’re contributing to air pollution. It’s not your fault, virtually everything we do in a modern society puts pollutants in the air, one way or another.

There are a number of things however, that should be done to limit our personal pollution output (because they’re fun and easy — and can make a serious difference!).

Here’s our top 10 recommendations for lowering your impact.

Getting around

Whether you live in a city or in the countryside, nowadays there is no excuse to lack imagination regarding methods of travelling from A to B. From cars to taxis, buses to bicycles, segways to scooters, even swimming up or downstream — it can feel sometimes like a jungle out there, with seemingly endless choices for how to bumble from home to work and back again, with varying degrees of dignity.

Since transportation is a chief source of global pollution, it’s a good place to start if you are looking to reduce your impact.

1. Use public transport

If your your journey to work, like most of us, is too far for walking and too short for flying, seize the opportunity to befriend the masses and jump on a bus or subway.

2. Avoid taxis

Even if taxis are more relaxing than getting squished on the subway during rush hour, it can be easy to forget that we are still responsible for a whole journey’s worth of emissions. Maybe even two, with our driver trawling the streets before and after we enjoy the ride. Yikes! Luckily — there are many cheaper, and greener, ways to get around.

3. Grab a segway, bicycle or pony

Remember that guy whizzing past you standing on a Back-to-the-Future-esque, cool looking platform, without breaking a sweat? That could be you. If inspiring awe (or disdain) on a futuristic commute is less your scene, then instead grab your padded shorts and lycra up for an early cycle. You’ll be beating the traffic with toned, sun-beaten legs before you know it. Alternatively, why not consider broadening your skillset and try riding a pony, if you’re out of inspiration.

4. If you can’t resist the 4-wheeled machine — keep it green

If you are in the market for a car, new or used, do your research on fuel efficiency. A zero emissions automobile is ideal, but over the past 10 years, great strides have been made in the development of hybrid vehicles that emit much less than 100% gas-driven cars.

Similarly, consider opening up your vehicle door to friends and set up a your own carpool. Streamline your cash and pollution, whilst making yourself popular. If you drive every day to work with an empty car, this is for you.

5. Reconnect with your feet

Old fashioned as it may seem, walking from place to place is not only healthy and emission-free, but can also be surprisingly efficient even across a big city. Any Fitbit fiends will attest that some healthy competition goes a long way to make a stroll a more appealing option.

Lifestyle

Think about all the amazing home appliances that make your daily life easier. Most of these likely use electricity, which is largely still produced from unsustainable sources across the world. Limiting your electricity usage at home (and anywhere else, for that matter) is a super easy, but easily forgotten way to reduce a leading contributor of airborne pollution (energy production) from the source. Here’s a few tips to do so:

6. Turn off and unplug unused electronics

Electronic devices can use electricity even when switched off.

7. Avoid single use plastic cups, plates

Carry a reusable cup with you for drinks on-the-go, and when ordering take-away food, kindly ask the restaurant owners to avoid giving unnecessary disposable tableware.

8. Reduce your energy bills

It’s no secret that air conditioners and heaters, even the energy efficient ones, draw a lot of power. By using a fan instead of an air conditioner, you will save money on your electric bill, while helping the environment. Turn your heater down and add an extra blanket on your bed. If you must use your A/C, try going up 1°C (or 2°F) in the summer and down 1°C (or 2°F) in the winter.

8. Look for the Recycled logo

Using products that use recycled materials cuts down on the waste produced by buying products with packaging that are produced new. In some cases, the product may be a little more expensive, but the pollution saving down the chain of manufacturing will help the environment.

9. Eat less meat

Sad though it may be to hear it, meat production is a highly inefficient way to produce food. Per kilogram produced, meat burns through more land, water, other food, and importantly, polluting emissions than non-meat produce such as grains, fruit or veggies. But fear not — no-one’s asking you to go complete cold turkey in order to improve the air. Simply cutting down with a meat-free meal or two per week can have a significant impact on your food footprint.

10. Encourage friends to reduce their footprint as well

Your friends and family are all affected by poor air quality. Talk to them about it! Every friend you convince to reduce their footprint multiplies your personal impact, and helps you to bathe in more sweet, planetary good karma. As well as cleaner air.

We may all feel like cog in the machine contributing to the global air pollution problem but we can still make a difference in reducing our footprint.

See what’s polluting your home and neighborhood with the AirVisual Node Air Monitor. For more information, visit airvisual.com/node