Kids Need Clean Air

Tips for Fighting Air Pollution in Your Community

Individuals

• Visit the American Lung Association’s Web site at www.californialung.org and learn about Clean Air Month activities in your area.

• Consider making your next vehicle a cleaner-fueled one. Electric, natural gas, and hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles pollute less and reduce our dependence on oil. American Lung Association volunteers, staff and donors can receive discounts on the purchase or rental of cleaner-fueled cars at EV Rental Cars. Mention the American Lung Association, and EV Rental Cars will make a donation to the organization. For more information, visit http://californialung.org/spotlight/evrental.html. For a list of recommended cleaner-fueled vehicles, go to http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/cf_vehicles.html.

• Talk to your school district about replacing diesel buses with buses powered by cleaner fuels such as natural gas or electricity.

• Drive less by walking more. Walk to work, school, errands or to visit friends and family.

• Take your lunch to work or walk to lunch if possible.

• Ride your bike to work and encourage others to try this zero-pollution mode of transportation. Bicycling is good for your health in more ways than one.

• Take the train or bus whenever possible. Enjoy the free time and freedom from stressful driving.

• Take the kids bicycling, walking or roller-skating. Get them thinking about their health and how it relates to the environment.

• Carpool. You'll save on gasoline and vehicle repairs.

• Maintain your vehicle. Emissions coming out of your tailpipe hurt our children. Give your car a regular check up and help improve the health of future generations.

• Take care when refueling your vehicle. Don’t top off your tank and wait three seconds before removing the nozzle. Fuel spillage adds to air pollution.

• Combine errands into one trip.

• Take care of three things at one time: your lawn, your health and your environment. Use an electric lawn mower.

• Don’t use your wood stove or fireplace on days when air quality is poor and make sure your wood stove is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

• Avoid using leaf blowers, especially gasoline-powered models, and other dust-producing equipment.

• Drive slowly on unpaved roads and other dirt surfaces.

• Use water-based paints and cleaning products.

• Conserve energy year-round. Consider installing solar panels to reduce energy consumption.

• Become an American Lung Association e-Advocacy Network volunteer and write letters to opinion leaders about air pollution and health issues. Sign up at www.californialung.org.

Companies, Schools and Organizations

• Invite speakers to your company or school to talk about cleaner transportation, including electric, natural gas, hybrid electric-gasoline and fuel cell technology. Discuss the health benefits of driving vehicles that don’t pollute our air.

• Replace fleets with cleaner-fueled vehicles such as hybrid electric-gasoline, natural gas or electric and take advantage of lower maintenance costs and other incentives. For details, visit http://californialung.org/spotlight/vehicles.html.

• Replace diesel buses with buses powered by cleaner fuels such as natural gas, electricity or fuel cells.

• Conserve energy year-round. Consider installing solar panels to reduce energy consumption.

• Provide charging stations for electric vehicles.

• Encourage employees to carpool. Offer preferred parking and other incentives.

• Make your next vehicle a cleaner-fueled one. American Lung Association volunteers, staff and donors can receive discounts on the purchase or rental of cleaner-fueled vehicles at EV Rental Cars. Mention the American Lung Association, and EV Rental Cars will make a donation to the organization. For more information, visit http://californialung.org/spotlight/evrental.html.

• Purchase cleaner-fueled vehicles for your organization, church or temple.

• Telecommute don't pollute. Employees who work at home have more time for business when they spend less time in traffic.

• Hold conference calls instead of in-person meetings. Cutting down on car trips reduces air pollution.

• If your company is in the construction or other dust-producing industry, be sure to follow all dust-reduction regulations.

Government

• Support walking and biking by adopting regional design standards for transportation projects that are conducive to biking and walking.

• Establish a regional bicycling agency to develop a regional bicycle network connecting urban areas.

• Set policies that require new developments to incorporate smart growth goals that facilitate walking, biking and using mass transit.

• Replace government fleets with cleaner-fueled vehicles such as hybrid electric-gasoline, natural gas or electric and take advantage of lower maintenance costs. For details, visit http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/vehicles.html.

• Replace diesel buses with buses powered by cleaner fuels such as natural gas, electricity or fuel cells.

• Support policies that encourage building on land within or near existing developments rather than in outlying areas to reduce car dependency.

For more information about air pollution and lung health, call the American Lung Association at 1.800.LUNG.USA or visit our Web site at www.californialung.org.

Clean Air Month 2003 Links

Clean Air is Everyone’s Business: Cleaner Options are Here Now

28 California Counties Receive F Grades for Ozone Air Pollution According to State of the Air Report -- American Lung Association Raises Awareness About Cleaner Transportation Options during Clean Air Month in May
(News Release -- May 1, 2003)

Are you one of the 137 million Americans who breathe unhealthy air? FIND OUT. Enter Your Zip:

State of the Air Report 2003 report (with California data).
(1.1MB PDF - requires free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader)

American Lung Association Raises Awareness About Cleaner Transportation Options During Clean Air Month in May -- "Clean Air is Everyone’s Business: Cleaner Options are Here Now"
(News Release -- April, 2003)

Print Ads: There’s Even More You Should Know About Diesel
View or Download Ads

Clean Air is Everyone’s Business
Tips for Fighting Air Pollution in Your Community

Cleaner Vehicles
Clean Fleets Program & Zero-Emission Vehicles Information

Recent Scientific Findings on Health Effects of Air Pollution and Diesel Exhaust

Reduce Air Pollution and Get Your Reduced Rental Rate or Purchase Price for an Electric, Natural Gas or Hybrid Car Now!

California Air District Resource Directory

Frequently Asked Questions About Diesel Technologies and Fuels

Particulate Matter Air Pollution - There’s Even More You Should Know About Particulate Matter

Public Health and Diesel
Fact Sheet

Renewable Energy - There’s Even More You Should Know About Renewable Energy

There’s Even More You Should Know About Smart Growth, Urban Sprawl, Air Quality and Health
Fact Sheet

Clean Air Month 2003 Proclamation
Sample Proclamation for California Cities & Counties

Milestones in Air Pollution History
American Lung Association Timeline

Cleaner Fuels -- There’s Even More You Should Know About Cleaner Vehicles

Environmental Justice
Fact Sheet

Position Statement: Reducing Public Exposure To Diesel Emissions From Heavy Duty Vehicles

Air Quality Fact Sheets