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You Can Help Reduce Ground-Level Ozone
Each individual contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone as well as industrial and commercial entities, and with simple efforts, each person can help reduce the emissions of
harmful pollutants. Air friendly tips are typically money saving and time saving tips, too!
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= money-saving tips |
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= time-saving tips |
In Your Car:
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Drive less by combining trips and planning in advance. |
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Bike, walk or ride the bus when possible. |
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Keep personal vehicles well-tuned and tires inflated properly. You can save up to 20% on
the amount of gasoline you use. |
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Pressure check vehicle gas caps annually and replace when necessary.* |
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Refuel as late in the day as possible (after 7 pm preferably), especially on ozone
alert days. |
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Stop at the click. Don't top off your tank when you refuel. This keeps harmful fumes
from being forced into the air. |
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Reduce vehicle idling. Idling gets zero miles per gallon, yet still produces emissions. |
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*Note: A faulty gas cap can allow up to 30 gallons of fuel per year to evaporate. At today's gas prices around $3/gallon, you could be wasting $90 a year compared to a new gas cap which
only costs $10! (JCED checks gas caps at various public events including Earth Day at
Shawnee Mission Park and at AquaFest in Olathe.) |
At Work:
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Allow and promote teleconferencing instead of driving to meetings. If you must drive,
carpool when possible. |
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Bring your lunch, carpool or walk to lunch, especially on ozone alert days. |
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Inquire about flexible work schedules that would promote driving less, such as the four
day work week. |
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Commute in style: bike, walk, carpool or take public transportation to work. Get in
some exercise, good conversation or a little reading in the process! |
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Purchase and use low-VOC paints, solvents, pesticides, etc. |
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Select printing companies that use soy-based inks or other low-emissions print processes. |
At Home:
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Reduce the amount of energy you consume at home. Most of this area's electricity comes
from coal-fired power plants that significantly contribute to ground-level ozone. |
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Purchase ENERGY STAR equipment. |
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Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. Turn off lights and appliances when they are not
in use. |
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Adjust the thermostat to a slightly higher setting in summer and consider installing
a programmable thermostat.** |
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Avoid chemicals that contain volatile organic compounds such as spray paint, paint
thinners, glue solvents, and pesticides.
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| **Note: KCPL is offering a programmable thermostat and installation for
FREE! (while supplies last). That's an initial $300 value. In addition, you will save money
on electric bills each month. To see if you are eligible
click here |
Lawn Care:
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Mow as late in the day as possible, preferably after 7 pm, when there is less sun and heat.
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Replace older gas cans with new "no-spill" gas cans for refueling equipment. Emissions from
gasoline spills are major contributors to ozone and spilled gasoline costs you money! |
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Practice low-maintenance lawn care, requiring less frequent mowing and less inputs
of polluting chemical pesticides. |
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Consider replacing any gasoline powered equipment (mowers, blowers, and string trimmers)
with electric, battery, or manual powered equipment. |
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Convert lawn spaces to native plants to reduce the amount of mowing and watering. |
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Avoid open burning. |
When Grilling:
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Do not use lighter fluid. It pollutes on both evaporation and burning. Your food will
taste better without it, too! |
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Use a charcoal chimney (pictured on right) instead of lighter fluid to start the coals.
They are easy to use and leave no telltale taste in the food. |
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Choose briquettes that are additive-free and avoid any added chemical flavors to the food.
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Gas grills emit less pollution than charcoal grills. |
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Postpone grilling until evening on ozone alert days. |
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