Live Green

Clean Air Tips to Live By Look over the list below and choose one, two or more actions you can take to improve air quality this spring. It all adds up to cleaner air! Green Cleaning. Many of the common household cleaners are hazardous to humans and domestic animals. Keep your house clean without contaminating the indoor air with these Green Cleaning Recipes. Conserve Energy for Clean Air.  Energy consumption—energy used to heat, cool, and light our homes and buildings, and keep our appliances running—affects air quality. Here are some tips to use less energy, curb greenhouse gases, and save you money: n  Weatherize! Sealing leaks and cracks, and adding insulation can        lower your heat bill. n  Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. n  Purchase Energy Star-rated appliances. n  Install a programmable thermostat. n  Check with your local utility for more conservation tips, and for       seasonal rebate programs and incentives. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! By reducing the amount of waste you generate, you will reduce the amout of "garbage" burned at our municiple incinerator, thus reducing air emissions.  Ways to reduce waste are buy buying bulk, bringing your own bags to stores, and choosing products with limited packaging. You can help conserve natural resources by reusing items, such as water bottles, and when they've outlived their life, then recycle them.  Many things in our homes can be recycled; newspapers, cans, glass bottles, cell phones, batteries, computers and more.  For more information on recycling in our community visit Spokane Regional Solid Waste System. Be Green and Compost! Composting yard and garden waste protects our air, land and water resources while providing a rich garden fertilizer.  "How to Compost" workshops are held free for the public throughout the year.  For workshop dates and locations, contact the recycling Hotline, 625-6800 or visit Spokane Regional Solid Waste System. Mow Down Air Pollution Did you know that a gas-powered lawnmower emits 11 times the air pollution of a new car for each hour of operation? Help mow down air pollution by: n  Switching to electric or manual-powered yard and garden       tools where feasible. n  When the temperatures are in the 90s (and hotter!) hold off using       gas-powered equipment until a cooler day. n  Store gasoline in a tighty-closed container, in a cool, dark place. n  If you use a leaf blower, avoid using it as a dust broom. When       cleaning sidewalks and driveways of dust, debris, choose a broom       and dustpan. Blowing it around only adds to the pollution problem.  Indoor Air Quality Participate in a FREE Master Home Environmentalist program, hosted by the American Lung Association of WA. A trained consultant will visit your home and work with you to find and fix things in your home that may be making your children or family sick. To schedule a free home indoor-air assessment, call 325-6516. Know About Asbestos Before Remodeling. Asbestos-containing products can be found in over 3,000 different building products. Regardless of the age of your home, be sure to learn more about asbestos and how to protect yourself and others. Click here for information on asbestos rules in Spokane. Test for Radon. The Spokane-area is considered a "hot bed" for radon levels. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer (smoking is #1) Testing kits are easy and inexpensive. For details, click here. Candles & Air Freshners These products can make your home smell nice, but they can be asthma and allergy triggers. Choose unscented beeswax candles, keep wicks trimmed short to minimize sooting, and keep away from drafty places.  Avoid air freshners, instead, simmer a few cinnamon sticks and cloves in water. Mighty pests and molds You can improve your indoor air quality by reducing those pests and molds that can irritate your respiratory system. Remove shoes before entering the house. Reduce dust by dusting, vacuuming carpets, and mopping floors at least once a week. Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly in hot water to kill dust mites. More on Indoor Air Quality The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a comprehensive webpage dedicated to indoor air issues. Click here.  Another source for more information about indoor air, allergens and asthma, is the American Lung Association of Washington