What you can do to reduce smog

At home
What you do inside your living space can have a big effect on the air quality outside it. Here are some choices you can make inside and around your home that will help you pollute less and save some money.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Be energy efficient. Monitor your energy use and try to reduce your consumption by turning off lights, updating some of your household appliances and products to low-energy models, and using your air conditioner wisely during the summer months. If you live in the Toronto area, Green$aver - a residential energy audit and retrofit organization - will come to your house and conduct an energy audit to test your home for energy efficiency. For details, call their office at (416) 203-3106.

Why? A large proportion of the Canadian energy supply comes from burning fossil fuels, a major contributor to smog. By cutting down your electricity use, you are cutting down on smog.

Did you know? Energy-efficient, compact fluorescent light bulbs require less energy and last 10 times longer than regular bulbs.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Purchase "green power" to meet your home's electricity needs. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.) For more information about renewable energy, see Pollution Probe's "Renewable Energy Primer" at www.pollutionprobe.org.

Why? Green power is energy that is generated from renewable sources, such as water, solar energy and wind. Green power does not create harmful smog emissions.

Did you know? On Canada's largest wind farm, Le Nordais on the Gaspé Peninsula, 133 wind turbines harness energy from the powerful winds off the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Reduce your outdoor use of VOC-releasing products such as oil-based paints, lawn pesticides, car cleaning solvents and waxes.

Why? These products dry through evaporation of the contained solvent, releasing strong-smelling VOCs, which contribute to smog formation.

Did you know? By 2010, solvent use in Ontario will contribute more than twice the amount of VOCs than from all transportation, which includes cars, trucks, aircraft and marine vehicles.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Keep woodstoves and fireplaces well maintained. If choosing one for your home, select a woodstove that comes equipped with an anti-pollution device.

Why? The burning of residential fuel wood is a significant source of air pollution in Canada. One way to minimize emissions from wood burning is to maintain a healthy fire. A chimney temperature of 150-200°C is considered to be optimum for combustion.

Did you know? Dark or smelly smoke rising from a chimney is an indication that the fire is not hot enough and is releasing large quantities of emissions.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Cut down on the use of small engine motors. These engines, which usually run on gasoline, are used primarily in lawn and garden equipment, such as lawnmowers, leaf blowers, chain saws, and lawn and garden tractors.

Why? Small engines at or below 19 kW (25 hp) contribute about 20% of VOC emissions and 23% of CO emissions from mobile sources.

Did you know? Manual push mowers available today are lightweight, at only 7-14 kg, versus the 20-30 kg models of the past, and feature metal handles instead of wood. Ideal for cutting small lawns, they are quiet, store easily and require no fuel.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Plant deciduous trees in locations around your home to provide shade in the summer, but to allow light in the winter.

Why? Properly sited trees reduce home air conditioning and winter heating needs considerably by providing shade and windbreak.

Did you know? Backyard trees may result in up to a 40% reduction in air conditioning needs, a 10% reduction in heating needs and a decrease in ambient air temperatures of up to 4°C.

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