We’ve all read I’m sure about unhealthy air affecting our lungs, whether it’s caused by emissions from our vehicles or from factory emissions, and more. We are not getting a dose of mountain air or air without pollution smog or particles. But according to an article published in Organic Style Special Report written by Richard Laliberte back in 2005, he does let us know from an EPA official that we’ve cut pollutants by more than half since 1970.
There’s so much more we need to do to make our air cleaner. There are still 220 operational coal-fired power plants in the U.S. Coal still accounts for 19.5% of U.S. electricity generation. There was 70% of in-state generation in four states in 2021: West Virginia, Missouri, Wyoming, and Kentucky. Plant Miller in the State of Alabama recorded the highest CO2 emissions in America for the past eight consecutive years as reported in 8/23/22.
Climate experts tell us that the world may have to stop generating electricity from coal by 2050 or we must find a way to prevent coal plant emissions from entering the atmosphere.
More electricity is produced from coal. Also, coal is widely available around the world, and relatively simple to transport and store. China is the biggest user and producer of coal but looking to level out its use. But South and Southeast Asia have been building new coal-fired power plants rapidly. They and we have to face the challenge of what’s the alternative. It’s not likely that the U.S. will build new coal-fired plants here, according to an expert from the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
As citizens, what can we do to help clear our air?
· Park in the shade – heat makes fumes from gasoline vent into the air even when your car isn’t running. A study from the University of California showed that parking in the shade lowers the temperature of gas tanks by four to seven degrees – enough to curb emissions by about two percent.
· Plant trees in your yard – though trees emit natural VOCs (volatile organic compounds), they also absorb them back making cleaner air.
· Avoid ionizing air cleaners – they use electric charge to extract dirty particles from the air, but they also create levels of ozone well above EPA standards. Look for air cleaners that use a mesh filter and list a clean-air delivery rate of 350 cubic feet per minute or more.
· Turning off devices – when we are not using them like TVs, DVD players, stereos, etc. that are plugged into power strips. It’s claimed that if everyone in the country did this, we would save more than $3 billion a year.
· Buy products with the Energy Star – they save money and use less power.
· Do the dollar test – Close your refrigerator door on a dollar bill making sure you get a firm tug pulling out the dollar. If it comes out easily, your door gaskets are not sealed tightly. Have them replaced.
· Get green power from your utility – which will come from nonpolluting sources and will still be delivered by your utility company.
· Fill your gas tank in the evening – when the sun goes down and the air cools, fewer fumes will evaporate during pumping. Some gas stations have a capture device that keeps fumes from escaping. It’s a rubberized thing on the nozzle, so the article said, by Janice Nolen in Organic Style.
· Drive a hot car – meaning run your errands back-to-back so your car doesn’t sit for more than an hour. A warm engine pollutes less.
· Practice upkeep – Get regular tune-ups and oil changes, keeping tires properly inflated also. A poorly maintained car releases as much as 100 times the emissions of a well-maintained car.
· Don’t litter! - use trash or recycling bins.
· Don’t discard volatile materials in the trash – paints, chemicals, and other noxious materials need to be brought to the proper disposing center in your area.
I wanted to share some of the facts and ideas from this article How to Clear the Air by Richard Laliberte though back dated which I’ve kept as a reminder of things to do to help our environment, plus a couple of my own.
I like to conserve energy by watching how many trips out the door I take, which ones are necessary, and how I can combine them or wait to do an errand or two at the same time when I’m down in the area I need to go.
Try buying items in disposable cartons like paper, metal, or glass that can be recycled rather than using plastic containers. I’m sure everyone by now has switched to cloth or paper bags rather than using plastic bags. We have to remember that plastic sticks around in the environment for ages that threaten wildlife and spread toxins. It also contributes to global warming because they are made from chemicals that come from the production of planet-warming fuels (gas, oil, and coal). Plastics are chemical pollution.
Hope this newsletter was informative and gave you some good ideas. If you have others, please comment.
Remember, what we do for the environment helps to purify the air we breathe, protects our lungs, protects wildlife, saves lives and energy, and money too. Help to keep our world beautiful. Thank you for reading.
All best, Giulietta
Website: https://gpassarelli.com
Medium: https://gpass3woj.medium.com
I am a certified reflexologist and nutrition counselor besides being a self-published author, poet, and writer. Have been sugar-free since 9-1-01.