Exposure to polluted air affects everyone’s health.
When we breathe in air pollutants, they can enter our bloodstream and contribute to coughing or itchy eyes. This might also worsen many breathing and lung diseases, leading to hospitalizations, or even premature death.
But ordinary people can help minimize polluted air in our surroundings. I have listed here 10 ways to maintain cleaner air.
1. Walk, bike or take public transport. Designing our cities and urban areas into walkable communities will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions as it will encourage people to walk rather than to ride their vehicles. Local authorities may consider limiting the number of tricycles.
2. Make your house energy efficient. Designing your house in way that will reduce energy consumption is ideal. Providing more ventilation will lessen the use of lighting and airconditioning units, therefore minimizing energy consumption.
3. Avoid wood fire burning. Majority among us use firewood in cooking, especially in rural areas. But avoiding fire burning help us in maintaining cleaner air.
4. Use manual garden tools and avoid using gasoline or diesel powered equipment.
5. Plan ahead. If you need to drive and use your vehicles, plan the most fuel-efficient route using Google maps and other tools.
6. Check tires. Properly inflated tires improve fuel efficiency. Studies said that tire which is 5% under-inflation translates into a 1% decrease in fuel efficiency.
7. Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Proper disposal of solid wastes, especially by segregating solid wastes at household level prolonged the lifespan of our landfills and other final disposal facilities. Properly managed solid wastes reflects a person’s awareness and behavior. Unsorted solid wastes may also result to open burning, which is prohibited in RA 9003 as well as in local ordinances. Our authorities should closely monitor violations, enforce laws, and prosecute offenders or else more people will burn their solid wastes.
8. Turn off your vehicle’s engine (car, motorcycle, etc) while waiting. Park and walk inside fast food joints or stores is more practical, instead of waiting in drive-through lanes.
9. Use organic gardening. Pesticides and other inorganic fertilizers caused emissions that are considered threats to the air quality. There are many healthy and safe alternatives to harmful pesticides.
10. Get involved. Actively support programs and activities for a cleaner air.