Search Results for: blog reducing air pollution

What Can You Do on Bad Air Quality Days?

I was driving around Portland last week when one of those traffic message boards nearly stopped me in my tracks: HIGH SMOG TODAY. It went on to suggest that I limit my driving (hard to do when one is already in the car and on the road). I didn’t think the Pacific Northwest was a major smog area, but I guess the traffic message flashers don’t lie. Air quality depends on a lot of things, including what’s in the air (it may be particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, even pollen and mold). Urban areas tend to have more problems with … Continue reading →

Reducing Air Pollution

Various kinds of air pollution can aggravate your allergies. Much of the pollution in the air comes from industrial sources and cars, but there are lots of things you can do on your own to help decrease air pollution. Small changes can make a big difference over time! Get your family involved! Here are some ideas for reducing air pollution at home: Use energy-efficient lights and appliances. Look for the Energy Star label to find the most efficient products. Recycle paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, and cardboard. Reuse materials — like plastic and paper bags or plastic containers — whenever possible. … Continue reading →

Groupon Snags Edward Norton

I’ve written before about Edward Norton in my Green Celebrity series. This week, Groupon, the deal-of-the-day website, announced that it is teaming up with Norton for an Earth Day challenge. Norton played green for the big screen (as the Incredible Hulk), but this time, the socially conscious actor is hoping this Groupon challenge will help raise funds for green causes. Norton, who is also a U.N. Ambassador for Biodiversity, also is involved in Crowdrise, which I’ve also blogged about before. In case you missed that blog, Crowdrise is a fundraising site for charities. In addition to Norton, other celebrities such … Continue reading →

Cleaning Heat Ducts

It’s supposed to snow today. I really wish it wouldn’t, this mild, mild winter we’ve had has already given me a spark of spring fever. In looking around for things to clean to get my house ready for Spring I came across an article about cleaning your duct work. I’ve heard of this for a while but I’ve also heard that if you are not careful it can be a scam and you can wind up with worse ducts than you had to begin with. When I was growing up I don’t remember my parents ever having the ducts clean, … Continue reading →

More about Idling in Your Car

Yesterday, I blogged about why you shouldn’t sit idle with your engine running for more than 30 seconds. Now I know this is a hard concept for many to grasp – I even have a bit of trouble with it. But the benefits are tremendous. Here are a few myths and facts that might make you decide to turn your key, and be idle-free. Myth: You need to warm up your engine before driving. Experts say that yes, the car needs to be warmed up, but idling is not the way to do it. To warm up the car, let … Continue reading →

Green Homeless Shelters – Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter

Yesterday, I blogged about Crossroads, a new green homeless shelter that is about to open in East Oakland, Calif. But, it was not the first homeless shelter certified green. The Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter in Fairfax, Va. opened August 4th of last year. The 16,931 square foot shelter was among the first to receive the Green Globes certification. The Green Globes certification is awarded to structures by the Green Building Initiative of Portland, Ore. The shelter, which can hold up to 20 families, offers an eco-friendly, safe, and secure environment where the families can stay while trying to get … Continue reading →

Green Travel

Getting ready for your summer vacation? Here are some ways that you can make sure your travel is as green as possible. Here are my tips. Stay close to home Vacationing close to home means that there is less travel, so you will be putting less pollution into the air. Reducing your travel time is a very green thing. There are many local activities near any large town or city to explore. When you are on the road, bring along some supplies instead of buying them. For example, fill a cooler and or water bottles with water rather than bringing … Continue reading →

Eco-Friendly Mowing

It is still late morning here, and I can already hear various lawn mowers puttering away in the yards of my neighbors. Unfortunately, mowers contribute five percent of air pollution, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. About fifty-four million Americans mow their lawns each weekend. Fortunately, we aren’t one of that number, at least not yet. We live pretty much in the woods and don’t have a grassy space. Once our landscaping is done, we do plan on having a grassy yard for at least a portion of the yard. And, we will be looking in to eco-friendly options … Continue reading →

Healthy Houseplants

If you’re looking for a way to keep your houseplants healthy, you can check the Home Blog. If you’re looking for houseplants that can keep YOU healthy, you’re in the right place. Plants can brighten your home — but they have a ton of health benefits. Lower stress with some greens in your workspace. Even in low light or offices without windows, you can keep a dragon tree, bamboo palm, snake plant, or arrowhead vine. Studies from Washington State University have shown that exposure to plants can lower your systolic blood pressure by as much as four points. Compare it … Continue reading →

“Park Your Car For A Penguin”

How’s that for a catchy tag line? One transportation group says if penguins could talk they would likely urge travelers to think about them and take a bus. “Motorcoaches are nice and don’t melt our ice.” Another great line. The hits keep coming in an eight-page educational booklet produced by the American Bus Association aimed at sending an important message to policy-makers. The pamphlet is titled “Save A Penguin. Take A Motorcoach.” According to leaders in the bus industry, by supporting motorcoach transportation, which gets about 184 miles per gallon and is one of the most efficient ways to travel, … Continue reading →