Taking Action

What actions can I take to improve air quality at home?

Avoid using pesticides.
Avoid using gasoline or diesel powered equipment such as lawnmowers.
Adjust air-conditioner temperatures up slightly by one or two degrees
Use fans instead of air conditioners because they use less energy
Conduct a home energy audit to obtain information on the energy efficiency of your home.
Avoid using oil-based paints and solvents when possible.
Look for low emission engines when buying new lawn mowers, snow blowers and outboard motors.
If buying a wood stove, chose one that is EPA Certified or CSA Approved
Buy energy efficient appliances. The EnerGuide labels rate the energy efficiency of appliances. The lower the number or consumption rating, the less energy the appliance uses.
Replace an old oil or gas furnace with a high efficiency model. You can also replace your furnace-mounted humidifier with a water-efficient model, which will help you save water and energy.
Turn lights off when not needed and turn the furnace down when you leave the home and at night.

Use low sulphur fuel
When buying a new car, consider a fuel efficient model.
Keep your tires well inflated to increase gas mileage and reduce emissions of air pollutants. Under-inflated tires increase the amount of gas Canadians use by 400 million litres a year, costing $480 million (assuming $1.20/litre).
Keep your vehicle well tuned to reduce fuel consumption by up to 10%.
Don't idle your car. Idling your vehicle for as little as 10 minutes a day uses an average of 100 litres of gas a year. By turning your car off, you can save up to $120 a year assuming gas costs $1.20 a litre.
Use public transit. A full bus is equivalent to taking 40 cars off the road during rush hour traffic. It also saves 70,000 litres of fuel and avoids 9 tonnes of air pollution a day.
Avoid quick accelerations and quick stops as they increase fuel consumption.
Drive at the posted speed limit. Driving at 120 km/hr instead of 100 km/hr increases fuel consumption by approximately 20%.