Hot days are bad enough but when you add in a batch of air pollution, as can be found in most major cities, the air quality only seems to get exponentially worse. Major cities have a tendency to form a sort of “heat island” where temperatures on hot days can actually be 2-22°F (1-12°C) hotter than if you live in a nearby rural community.

Living in a valley versus living by the ocean or on a mountain range can also adversely affect air quality on hot days. The hot weather seems to almost cook the pollution and make it that much harder to breathe. Besides, did you know that ”Ozone persists for hours after forming, so unhealthy conditions often last well into the evening, after the sun has gone down.“?

Therefore you might want to be aware of these 5 ways that air pollution can hit hard on a hot day:

1) Personally – According to the American Heart Association, continued exposure to air pollution could eventually contribute to heart disease and/or strokes. On hot days, this risk is magnified.

Additionally, young children, people with asthma and older adults are especially susceptible to breathing problems in heavily polluted areas and on hot days. So it is advised, for the sake of your health, to keep an eye on the air quality before you plan any prolonged outdoor activities for you and your family.

Drinking plenty of water and making sure you don’t get dehydrated is key as well. One of my favorite drinks (besides water) when it’s hot outside is: 1-2 teaspoons Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, 1-2 teaspoons organic honey and 8 ounces of cold distilled water. It really hits the spot on a hot day!

2) Pets – Animals are not able to fend for themselves most of the time. They depend on their owners to feed them, give them water, provide for them, etc. On hot days this is especially important.

Image by shoe the Linux Librarian

Don’t leave your pet in an area where they can’t escape the hot Summer heat. Also, make sure your pet has plenty of water. A dog, for example, usually drinks about .5-1 ounces of water for every pound they weigh. Hot days they will need more. Animals, like humans can suffer from heat stroke, get sunburns and get dehydrated. It is up to you to ensure your dog is well cared for.

When air quality is poor, your pet can experience some of the same symptoms you do. It is important to limit their exercise on hot, heavy pollution days and minimize their exposure to air pollutants too. Here are a few more hot weather pet care tips.

3) Your vehicle – As you probably know, unless you have an electric vehicle, your vehicle is more than likely contributing to harmful emissions and air pollution. Additionally, when air quality is poor, we tend to keep the windows rolled up and turn up the air conditioning. Which, if you don’t keep your vehicle properly maintained, could cause your vehicle to overheat.

One key tip, since gas vapors are quite harmful and contribute to ground ozone levels, is that you don’t fill up on hot “Air Quality Action Days“. If you have to fill up, it is recommended that you do so in the early morning hours or late evening, like after 7pm.

Nobody wants their car breaking down on a hot, pollution-heavy day.

4) Home – One of the first things we do, or are told to do, on a hot day when air pollution is especially heavy is to stay inside. Makes sense, right?! Well, not necessarily so. Indoor air quality can sometimes be up to 50% worse than outdoor air quality.

Besides the tips in the above video, here are a few more good ways you can improve the air quality inside your home. Take a look and see what you can do so that neither outdoor nor indoor air pollution will hit you quite as hard on a hot day.

5) Your wallet – One of the not so visible things that tends to get hit pretty hard on hot, heavy pollution days is your wallet. Just think about, if you stay at home, you probably spend more money trying to keep your house cool. You might turn on a few extra lights that wouldn’t usually be on.

You might drink and use more water to try and keep yourself cool. Maybe you even water your plants and lawn more to try and keep them from wilting or turning brown.

If you are in your vehicle, you are spending more even if just by having your a/c running the entire time you are out and about.

All in all, it pretty much boils down to the fact that air pollution gets worse on hot days. So a smart way to lower your risk is to lower the amount of air pollution you are putting into the environment. What tips do you have for lowering your exposure to air pollution on hot days?

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If you live in or around any major city you are more than likely having to deal with some form of air pollution on a daily basis. There are many sources of air pollution: vehicle emissions, manufacturing, factories, cigarettes, aerosol sprays, airplanes, wood burning or gas stoves/fireplace, just to name a few.

It is the major cities that tend to be weighed down by the heaviest pollution. Take for example, the volume of air pollution between a small town in the Pacific Northwest and a major city like Los Angeles or even Burbank, CA. The difference in air pollution can not only be seen, but it can be felt as well. The air is thicker, it is harder to breathe, even vision can be impaired.

Unfortunately for Los Angeles, in April 2010, Forbes.com included the city in their America’s Most Polluted Cities list with special note that the LA metro area was listed as “the country’s worst for ozone by the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2010 report“. Not a good sign for Los Angeles.

If you have never lived in a major city, or even if you have, the ALA’s chief medical officer made a good comparison when he stated that inhaling ozone is akin to ”getting a sunburn on your airways“. Nobody wants that.

But before you decide you have to pack up and move, there are simple steps you can take to lower air pollution and the affect it has on you and your health:

1) Carpool whenever you can and/or use a proven fuel additive to lower your vehicle’s emissions.

1a) If you can, get a low emission vehicle such as a hybrid or electric vehicle.

1b) Take public transportation when and where it is available.

Image by prayitno

2) Turn off lights, electronics, etc when they are not in use. Unplug small appliances as well, as they often continue to suck small amounts of energy even when not in use.

3) Invest in alternative energy such as solar or wind power.

4) Re-use and recycle as much as you can. There is no reason to go out and buy more “things”. If you need something, see if you can find it used or even borrow it from someone else. It is also a great way to save money.

5) Plant trees around your home.

Image by j_silla

6) Use low-VOC paints when painting or touching up your home.

7) If you do have heavy pollution days in your area, do not over-exert yourself. It’s recommended for your health to stay indoors on days when air quality is poor.

If you are uncertain about the air quality in your area, you can check here.

Just remember that the things you do and the choices you make, affect not only you but those around you as well. So when it comes to your health and the help of your family, friends and neighbors, please keep that in mind. A simple choice can sometimes make a big difference.

What choices have you made recently that help lower air pollution?

Image by Brian Teutsch (via Flickr)

The holidays are a time for bringing families together, decorating, giving gifts, hosting parties, enjoying each other’s company, etc.  However one thing I could do without during the holidays is indoor air pollution.  More prevalent during the holidays than any other time of year, indoor air pollution can have a larger affect on your holiday that you might realize.

FACT: A typical house can have more pollutants indoors than outdoors.  Some of those pollutants include dust, mold, bacteria, combustion gases from fireplaces and/or wood-burning stoves, cleaning products, pet dander, carbon monoxide fumes from an attached garage, chemical fumes, cigarette smoke, etc.  Then when you add in the holidays with items such as: candles, holiday baking/cooking, live Christmas trees, new toys/furniture and all the cleaning supplies used to get ready for guests, a house can get pretty toxic.

Now I’m not saying a live Christmas tree isn’t a good thing to have…it’s probably less toxic than an artificial tree.  Just keep in mind the more you decorate, the more toxins and/or pollutants you are adding to your home.  Therefore I would recommend using more natural decorations and less manufactured items (less likelihood for lead, paint smells, etc).  One good decoration is the pine cone…you just go outside, find some pine trees and collect your own.  If you don’t live in an area with pine trees, find other ways to bring in/make natural decorations.

If you really must have those holiday candles, then I recommend SallyLeeCandles.com and her soy candles.  They are much more eco-friendly, non-toxic and won’t contribute to your indoor air pollution like other candles will.  Non-toxic plants and flowers also add more life and decoration to a home and provide a natural scent.

To “air out” the smells and pollutants in your home and help ensure you and your holiday guests don’t get overwhelmed by indoor air pollution, simply open your doors or windows.  I’m not saying throw open your windows in 4 degrees with snow all around, but if you crack open a window in the kitchen while you are baking or open the door now and again to let some fresh air in, it will help keep your home from being overrun by holiday pollutants.  It also helps to keep humidity levels low and discourage mold and other allergens.  There are even some DIY steps you can take before the holidays to combat indoor air pollution.

One of the simplest tips of all, to ensure indoor air pollution doesn’t ruin your holiday, is to enjoy some time outdoors during the holidays. Getting fresh air can do wonders for your health and your spirit, especially over the holidays.  There is nothing like the crisp, fresh outdoors. Take some time to enjoy it this holiday season!

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No matter what form of transportation you use, one of the key things you should factor in is cost to you and the environment.  How much does it cost to run that vehicle?  How much is your car polluting the air?  How much will a proven fuel additive help lower emissions and improve fuel economy? Is it better for the environment and less costly to you to use public transportation?  Is time a factor in whether or not you are using public transportation?  How easy is it for you to get to the bus or train station?  Is there a station near your work?  All of those questions are a factor when it comes to deciding what form of transporation is best for you.

We’ve been doing that in our family and continue to find new ways to cut down.  First of all, out of necessity, we became a one-car family.  Even though we have two kids and a 70-lb dog (who goes with us a lot of the time), we just didn’t want to continue to make 2 car payments or pay twice as much insurance, especially since I work from home.  We also recently moved and there are a lot of stores and activities in close proximity to us, so walking is a great way for us to get around (when it isn’t 103 degrees outside).  Getting rid of one car saved us about $500+ per month on just car payments/insurance, not to mention gas, maintenance, repairs, etc.  It also saved about 9 tons of greenhouse gases from being emitted into the environment every year.

Shortly after that we started driving my husband to work one day a week so that we could use the car.  We use it to go visit the kids’ grandparents.  We manage to see two sets of grandparents every time we do it, so it saves us time, gas money and emissions.  To further save gas/mileage, my husband car-pools home from work those days.

Then our most recent step was actually started due to a new program his work set up.  They now pick up employees from Union Station in downtown L.A., if they ride train to work.  His office is about a 10-minute drive from Union Station, so prior to the new program, it didn’t really work for him to take the train to downtown then try and catch other lines/buses to get closer to work.  It took too much time and he would arrive at work late.  But since his company set up this new shuttle service, it has been working great.  He takes the train once or twice a week, when he needs to go to his downtown office, and the company picks him (and others) up.  He likes it because it is a lot less stressful, he gets to relax or work on the train, it doesn’t cost us as much and is less wear & tear on the car.  Oh…and did I mention, when he buys a 10-trip pass and uses it, his company reimburses him for 50% of the cost.

So, no matter who you are or what actions you are currently taking to curb your transporation costs and pollution, take some time to research what else you can do.  You may be pleasantly surprised as your city may have just the right program for you.  For example, in New York there is a group call Transportation Alternatives and their mission is “to reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile, and to advocate for bicycling, walking and public transit as the best transportation alternatives”.  In the San Francisco and Boston areas, there is a car service called PlanetTran which provides “the Nation’s first public auto service to utilize ultra fuel efficient hybrid vehicles exclusively”.  In Portland, in addition to being a bike/pedestrian-friendly city, they have Tri-Met which includes buses, the Max light rail, WES commuter rail and the Portland streetcars, one of which can pretty much get you anywhere you want to go in Portland.

But no matter where you live, big city or small, you can always check the websites of your local Metro trains, buses and even the EPA has a great “Green Vehicle Guide” to help you cut costs and environmental pollution.  What are you waiting for?

Image by biofriendly 

Even with the large volume of hybrids and electric vehicles being driven around the U.S. every day, there are still millions and millions of  hydrocarbon-based gasoline and diesel vehicles adding to our poor air quality.  For example, these types of vehicles are reportedly responsible for about 60% of the air pollution in most major cities.

What causes these vehicles to create harmful emissions and polluting exhaust?  It’s all in the combustion.  The incomplete combustion of these fuels can cause the hydrocarbons to react with nitrogen oxides (often produced from high temperatures and oxygen in excess of the amount needed to burn the fuel).  Then when the resultant gases hit the sunlight, they form ground-level ozone aka smog.

Now the volume of hydrocarbon-based fuels being used along with the efficiency, or inefficiency, of the cars’ engines will determine the amount of ground-level ozone/smog being produced.   If you have ever been in a congested city you know how heavy the air can seem.  That’s mostly ozone.  Ozone is a very potent irritant and can not only cause eye or throat irritations, but potentially serious lung damage or respiratory trouble.

So what can be done?  Everyone could go and trade their existing vehicles in for electric or hybrid vehicles, but that’s probably not a very workable solution.  Besides where would all the old vehicles go?  We already know they are having trouble disposing of the “Cash for Clunkers” vehicles. 

A simple solution is to improve the combustion of hydrocarbon-based gasoline and diesel fuels.   How do you do that?  Well, a few factors are key: First you should ensure you keep your engine clean and tune up your car regularly.  Built-up and unburned fuel can clog your engine and hinder future combustion.  Second you should use a proven fuel additive that will help un-bundle the hydrocarbon molecules, allowing oxygen easier access and thus producing a more complete burn.

I know this isn’t the end-all solution, but steps like this are something each person and/or company can do in order to ensure the vehicle(s) they are driving burn the hydrocarbons more completely.  Doing so will lower the volume of harmful emissions being produced and clean up the air we breathe.         

Image from PortofLosAngeles.org

America’s Port, aka the Port of Los Angeles, is making headway on its quest to significantly lower emissions and improve air quality.  This is even despite it being one of the largest U.S. Harbors, handling more cargo and international shipments in just a few weeks than most North American harbors do in a whole year. 

Last year I wrote a blog titled “Nitrogen oxides coming to a port near you” about the volume of pollution being generated from ships coming in/out of ports like the Port of Los Angeles.  So, I figured it was about time to see what steps are being taken by the Port of L.A. to improve the environment around it:

• The Los Angeles Harbor Board just approved the first terminal lease under the San Pedro Bay Ports “Clean Air Action Plan”.  Not only will this bring more construction and regional jobs to the area, but it takes one of the most obsolete container terminals and turns it into a “state-of-the-art facility by which TraPac will be able to implement cutting edge environmental mitigation technologies.”    They are even building an energy-efficient administration building which will meet LEED “Gold” standards.  Per estimates, these upgrades alone will reduce NOx and SOx emissions by 62%.
• TraPac (the company doing the upgrades) will also become eligible to receive an additional $1.5 million.  These funds would be ear-marked towards technology that can capture harmful emissions from ships not retro-fitted to plug in to the shore-side electric power while they are in port.
• NOTE: Capturing harmful emissions from ships who aren’t or can’t afford to be retro-fitted to make use of the shore-side electric power while in port, is a key step.  But, ships and shipping companies can implement simple and immediate cost-effective technologies such as using fuel additives proven to lower emissions in both heavy fuel oil and marine diesel.  Every step taken to lower emissions helps.
• A ”Water Resources Action Plan” was just adopted.  It is designed improved water quality in the port…a much needed improvement.  The plan zeroes in on littering, sediment pollution and other potential contaminants.
• Since implementing their “Clean Trucks Program” in October 2008, The Port of Los Angeles reports that almost 60% of the over 177,000 cargo moves done in June 2009, were done by clean trucks that meet or exceed the EPA’s 2007 emission standards. 
• In Feb 2009, the port took possession of the first 25 heavy-duty all electric trucks from Balqon Corp.  Balqon Corp built these electric trucks exclusively for the port.  Each truck can haul a 60,000 lb. cargo container at speeds up to 40mph.  The battery has a range of 30-60 miles, so obviously they are designed for local hauling.  Each battery charger can fully charge 4 electric trucks within a 4 hour period, but can also provide up to 60% charge in just an hour for peak delivery times. 

Those are just some of the steps the Port of Los Angeles (and Port of Long Beach for the most part), have recently been taking towards lowering harmful emissions and improving air quality around the ports.  I don’t know about you, but it looks to me like they are serious about…..”The Port of Los Angeles - A cleaner port. A brighter future.”   

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There are many different kinds of pollution, some being more obvious than others of course.  For example, when I’m sitting in traffic heading over the 405 freeway into Los Angeles, air pollution and smog are pretty obvious pollution.  When I pass by the LA River and see trash piling up along its banks or graffiti along the walls, that’s another obvious form of pollution.  When I go down to the pier and see plastic bottles, paper, cans, plastic bags, etc. floating in the water where kids are swimming, that’s another obvious forms of pollution.

These different forms of pollution got me thinking…how polluted is my neighborhood?  I figured I’d go online and check with Scorecard.org, a great site that lists itself as “The Pollution Information Site”.

All you do is type in your zip code and away you go.  It breaks down your “Pollution Report Card” by categories like toxics, air and water.  Then it gives you information on how you can DO MORE to make a difference and help improve the air pollution and other forms of pollution in your community. 

One downside was the report was a little broad as it listed my neighborhood as all of Los Angeles County, but I checked it out anyway.  Needless to say, there is a lot of air pollution and other forms of pollution in LA.  But after getting these specifics for myself, I really encourage you to take a moment to find out how your neighborhood/county ranks.  Then go to the TAKE ACTION section of Scorecard and see what you can do to make a change.  Let me know how you do.

The air pollution restrictions proposed last month by the EPA to the International Maritime Organization to establish a 200 nautical mile virtual perimeter around the lower 48 states, Anchorage and the seven populated Hawaiian islands are a breathe of fresh air.  The new restrictions would require ships including tankers, cruise ships, cargo ships and many other large vessels to use low-sulfur fuel or new technology which would ensure they emit less sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and soot within 20 nautical miles of the U.S.

With ports across the U.S., including many major ports right here in Southern California, such as the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, bringing in the vast majority of all U.S. imports, establishing air pollution control for ships is long overdue.

According to the post from the Journal of Commerce, the Port of Long Beach is gearing up towards a $750 million dollar Middle Harbor redevelopment project.  The Long Beach Harbor Commission is scheduled to cast their vote on April 13th for the proposed project which apparently increases marine terminal capacity while reducing pollution.  Diesel emissions are estimated to be reduced by 50% through a series of planned environmental measures including vessels being required to operate from shore-side electrical power while at berth.  Vessels will also have to use low-sulfur fuel in their main and auxiliary engines as they transit to and from berth.

Another company right in line to help with the new proposed air pollution restrictions for marine vessels is Biofriendly Corporation.  With years of sea-trials already complete and certified test results from accredited laboratories, Biofriendly Corporation’s Green Plus™ has been proven to not only improve marine vessel emissions and fuel economy but reduce maintenance needs as well.

Marine vessels ranging from harbor tugboats and ferries to 150,000 dwt oil tankers and container ships have already achieved results by adding Green Plus to their heavy fuel oil or marine diesel.  So, as the new air pollution restrictions get put into place to clean up our ports and the air around them, shipping companies would be wise to check out using a proven marine fuel additive such as Green Plus.

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I’m sure many of you have read articles or blogs about different restaurants or fast food places recycling their cooking oil and turning it into fuel to help save money and increase fuel economy on their vehicles.

The Environmental Leader had a great article a few weeks ago about Carl’s Jr opening a “green flagship restaurant” in California.  In addition to their solar reflective roofing, smart irrigation, energy management system and many other green features, they too recycle their cooking oil for alternative fuel and other uses.  That’s pretty good, wouldn’t you say?!

Well, while I was sitting in a fast food drive-thru line a week or so ago it got me thinking.  I started to wonder how much gas I was wasting waiting for the cars in front of me to pay and get their orders.  There were about 4 cars in front of me and for some reason the front car’s order was taking an awfully long time.  In addition to wasting gas, we were also all spewing out plenty of harmful emissions – and that’s the last thing that is needed…especially in downtown LA where there is enough air pollution.

That made me ask…how could fast food restaurants help their customers lower harmful emissions and improve fuel economy?  Of course, if they opened their own alternative fuel pumps, they could offer “French fried gasoline”.  (I know…probably not an option, but it’s an idea.)

However, from what I know of the drive-thru, it’s supposed to be the fastest way to get your fast food.  And if you think about it, it should be.  With all the emissions being spewed out and gas being wasted by vehicles that go through the drive-thru…anything that can be done to speed things up would help all around!

So while many of us use fuel additives, get hybrid cars, car-pool and/or keep our vehicles properly tuned…all in the name of fuel economy, maybe fast food restaurants could do their part and keep those lines moving!  With all the green actions fast food restaurants are taking, this one couldn’t hurt.

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Have you ever been running late to work and run out of gas during your commute?  Got a flat tire that you could really use some help changing?  Don’t know what’s wrong with your car, but from the black emissions spewing out behind you, you know something’s definitely not right?  Well, if you’re in Los Angeles during morning or evening commute, don’t fret.  Call #399 from your cell phone and the Metro Freeway Service Patrol will be there soon.

The Metro Freeway Service Patrol is a “free” service for stranded freeway motorists.  The funding for this program was set up in 1990 by Proposition C, which funded transportation improvements and actions to reduce traffic congestion.  So what exactly do these tow trucks do?

“The FSP tow trucks reduce traffic congestion by efficiently getting disabled cars running again or by quickly removing those cars from the freeway.  FSP also greatly reduces the chances of further incidents caused by onlookers and impatient drivers.  In addition, FSP helps save fuel and reduce air polluting emissions by reducing stop-and-go traffic.”

Now I personally had a GREAT experience with the Freeway Service Patrol.  Many years ago, a friend and I were driving along the freeway in Glendale, CA when we ran out of gas.  It was during rush-hour and we barely made it to the side of the freeway with all the traffic.  Within minutes of us pulling over, a Metro Freeway Service Patrol tow truck pulled up behind us.  We didn’t even have time to pull out our AAA cards, much less call them.  But then the tow truck driver told us it was a free service, we didn’t need to do anything else.  He would give us a gallon of gas and direct us to the nearest gas station…and he did.  Within minutes we were on our way again!

So I guess you could say the Metro Service Freeway Patrol is another helpful step towards lowering harmful emissions.  Now in addition to keeping your car tuned up, using a good fuel additive and car-pooling when you can…the next time you are on a Los Angeles freeway in heavy traffic, look around and you’ll probably see the Metro Service Freeway Patrol helping stranded motorists and thus keeping the freeways moving and lessening the harmful emissions that result from stop-and-go traffic.