‘Tis the Season: Easy Tips to Protect the Environment and Improve Air Quality this Winter Season

With the winter and holiday season quickly approaching, Clean Air Partners a regional air quality organization, would like to provide you with easy ways you can lower energy, protect your health and the environment, and save some money (definitely a priority during the gift-giving season).  

1. Staying Warm: Install a programmable thermostat, which can help regulate your home’s temperature in both summer and winter — when you are asleep or away. Properly set your programmable thermostat (1.1ºC) lower in the winter. By turning the temperature down 8 degrees for 7 hours each night and an additional 7 hours each weekday, you can save up to 12 percent in seasonal heating costs. For the average home, this could result in savings of about $180.

2. Light up the House: Whether it’s the Christmas tree or just light icicles on the roof, decorating is fun for the whole family. Switch to ENERGY STAR-qualified decorative LED Lights Light Strings.  They consume 65 percent less energy and can last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent light strings. They are even much cooler to the touch – reducing risk of fire.

3. Gift Ideas: If you plan on purchasing game consoles or new appliances for your loved ones look for the ENERGY STAR-certified products. This will help you use less energy and will save you money – bottom line. A home equipped with ENERGY STAR-qualified TVs, set-top boxes, a Blu-Ray player, and a home-theatre-in-a-box, will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but can save you nearly $350 over the life of the products.

4. Recycle that Wrapping Paper! Recycle wrapping paper and half of all household waste (i.e. plastics, cardboard, food waste, and glass containers) after all the gifts are opened and the feasts have ended. According to the U.S. EPA, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day than during any other time of the year. This extra waste amounts to 25 million tons.

5. Wood-burning Stoves: Smoke from fireplaces can be a significant source of air pollution, especially during the winter season when cold air temperatures leads to stagnant air movement. Choosing an EPA-approved wood burning stove or fireplace insert feature with improved safety and efficiency reduces the amount of toxins released. They produce almost no smoke, minimal ash, and require less firewood. Cleaner wood-burning stoves can reduce your fuel bill, in addition to protecting your health. EPA-certified stoves produce only 2 to 7 grams of smoke per hour, as compared to older uncertified stoves release 15 to 30 grams of smoke per hour putting you on Santa’s naughty list.

6. Enjoy the Gatherings: With all the family, friends, and work get-togethers, shopping for groceries and stocking stuffers can add up quickly! Consider consolidating your trips or even carpooling. Driving your vehicle less during the season can help reduce emissions that contribute to unhealthy air quality.

7. Make Your Time Together – Quality: Put away the gadgets and spend real time together.

8. Share the Holiday Spirit: Encourage your employer to offer commuter benefits, such as teleworking, or consider carpooling with colleagues to minimize the environmental impacts associated with driving alone. Cars are THE major source of air pollution in the greater Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore region. If you leave your car at home one day a week, you prevent 55 pounds of air pollution contribution.

9. Stay Informed: Sign up for Clean Air Partners AirAlerts – which will keep you informed when air quality is unhealthy. AirAlerts are real-time health notifications sent directly to your email that not only provide alerts when the air quality is forecasted to be unhealthy – but provides simple steps to improve air quality and protect your health and the environment. 

Clean Air Partners has been educating our region about the health risks associated with poor air quality and the impacts everyday actions have on the environment for more than 16 years. Clean Air Partners has engaged more than 5,600 participants (residents, partners/sponsors, and businesses/organizations) who have committed to take VERY small actions to reduce their impact on the environment and exposure to air pollution during unhealthy air quality days.