Cars are more than 90 percent cleaner now than in
1970. And yet, air pollution from vehicles has not improved as much as
everyone hoped. This is because there are more cars driving more miles.
Breathing polluted air is unhealthy
for everyone, especially pregnant women, kids, the elderly, and people with
asthma or other heart or respiratory diseases. Today, nearly 30 million
adults and children in the United States have been diagnosed with
asthma.
Cars and trucks are responsible for about half the air pollution in Minnesota. Pollution from vehicles includes:
- Carbon monoxide–a gas that reduces oxygen delivery to the body’s organs.
- Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds–two ingredients in ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone is unhealthy to breathe and causes smog.
- Fine particles--microscopic particles that can trigger asthma and heart attacks.
There
are important laws to help keep the air clean–such as the Clean Air
Act of 1970–but decisions we all make, including what to drive and how
often to drive, are important parts of the solution. Here are things you can do to reduce air pollution from cars and trucks:
- Find a pedestrian-friendly route by selecting “walking” or “biking” as modes of travel when planning your route via Google maps.
- Check out the Bike Walk Twin Cities website for resources to get started.
- Remember to follow the rules of the road so that biking is safe for bikers and vehicles alike.
While biking and walking may cause you to breathe heavily near traffic, a recent analysis found that the health benefits of bicycling are substantially larger than the risks, relative to car driving. Ride on!
Diversify your commute.
Try to replace your work commute one day a week with a rideshare or
telework option. You can find a car or van pool to join through Metro Transit’s website. Resources for telecommuting are available at the EWorkPlace Minnesota website. Pledge to travel any way other than driving alone at least once between now and June 30 through the 2012 Commuter Challenge and you'll be eligible for great prizes, like Kindles, Netbooks, Kindle Fires and gift cards.
- Slow down and accelerate gradually.
- Remove excess weight from your car, like sports equipment or a roof rack not in use.
- Turn off your air conditioning and open the windows when driving on city streets.
- Use cruise control on the highway—except during icy weather or heavy traffic.
- Keep your tires properly inflated.
Don’t remove, defeat or bypass emissions equipment including catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters
(traps), or engine control modules or chips. The emission control
equipment is largely responsible for your new car being 90 percent
cleaner than old cars. It is also illegal to tamper with or remove this
equipment.
Maintain your vehicle according to the owner’s manual
and pay attention to your “check engine” light.
Consider fuel efficiency the next time you are in the market to buy, lease, or rent a car. The U.S. Department of Energy has an online guide to find and compare cars. Also consider electric vehicles (EVs). EVs do not use an internal combustion engine and emit no tailpipe exhaust.
Be “air aware.” The weather causes local air quality to vary day-to-day. The MPCA reports the daily air quality conditions
for the Twin Cities and several other Minnesota locations. It is helpful
if individuals minimize their contribution to air pollution on bad air
days. You can sign up to receive air-quality information via email or text message.
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Minnesota GreenCorps
is an AmeriCorps program run through the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency. Members gain valuable skills and job experience in
the environmental
field while giving back to the communities in which they serve. Minnesota GreenCorps
is now accepting applications from individuals
interested in serving as a Minnesota GreenCorps AmeriCorps member. Apply through May 30.
Cristina Villella, a Minnesota GreenCorps member in Duluth, shares her experience in the program.
About Cristina:
I grew up
in the Twin Cities and attended college at St. Cloud State University
where I majored in Environmental Studies. After graduating, I spent a
year working at the Science Museum of Minnesota and volunteering at
local schools. While I had the education and motivation to succeed, I
was looking for an opportunity to gain experience and build connections
within the environmental field; that’s when I found Minnesota
GreenCorps.
A day in her life as an AmeriCorps member:
I
am serving as a Living Green member at the Western Lake Superior
Sanitary District (WLSSD), located in Duluth. WLSSD is a solid waste authority, wastewater
treatment plant, yard waste/compost site, household hazardous waste
facility, materials recovery center, and more. The staff at WLSSD are
knowledgeable, share their experience, and help
me learn and succeed.
My
primary role is working with the Duluth area schools to improve their
waste management programs. Day-to-day tasks range
from delivering recycling bins to conducting classroom lesson plans. I’m
also involved with organizing green teams, tracking waste, right-sizing
containers, diverting food waste in cafeterias, creating educational
resources, and much, much more. It’s very exciting to have the
opportunity to initiate programs, work through the
logistics, and measure success. It allows me to be a part of
something that is directly making our community and environment a better
place!
Why she serves with the Minnesota GreenCorps:
I
originally joined Minnesota GreenCorps to gain work experience in the
environmental field, but it has become much more. I’m creating
connections with numerous individuals and organizations, learning new
things daily, and experiencing all aspects of the field. In addition, I
am discovering my own strengths, becoming an active part of a community,
and opening exciting possibilities for my future. It’s a great program
and I’m happy to serve with Minnesota GreenCorps!
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Celebrate Earth Day on April 22--this Sunday--by spending time in nature. Find activities and new places to explore in Minnesota using the Families Outdoors website.
Interested in sustainability in the St. Cloud Area? Spend an afternoon exploring local resources and information at the 2012 Sustainability Expo, April 22, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Cloud State University.
Waste reduction and recycling grants are available for community organizations and schools in Ramsey, Washington, Anoka, Hennepin, Dakota or Carver counties through the Community POWER Grant Program. Community groups, such as neighborhood organizations, schools, churches, senior citizen groups, youth organizations, and civic groups are eligible. Apply online at www.RethinkRecycling.com.
Recycle expired or damaged children's car seats through Recycling Association of Minnesota's REseat program. Several collection events are scheduled throughout the spring.
Thank you for reading
Living Green 365. This newsletter is a publication of the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency. Please send questions or comments about living green to the
address below.
Sincerely,
Britt Gangeness and
the Living Green Team
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