Since ozone-forming pollutants are primarily caused by human activities, there are many things we can do to help prevent ozone and keep our air healthy.

Here's how you can help...

• Drive less. Walk when you can, ride a bike or take a bus. Just spend less time in your car.
• Drive a "greener" vehicle. When it's time to buy a car, look for high gas mileage...or an alternative fuel.
• Combine errands. Make lists and plan errands efficiently to avoid extra driving and save time.
• Don't idle. Skip the drive-thru and don't leave the engine running while you run in a store or wait for a passenger.
• Try a commute solution. Take another way to work: ride the bus, carpool with a neighbor, walk or bike.
• Tune up your car. Proper maintenance can increase gas mileage and reduce pollution.

  

• Save energy. Most energy is produced by burning fossil fuels, so more energy equals more pollution.
• Use less water. It takes energy to pump and treat water, so using less water reduces energy waste and pollution.
• Recycle and reuse. Find new uses for old materials, and reduce the demand for high-polluting factory processes by recycling as much as possible.
• Go electric. Trade your gas-powered lawn equipment for quiet, low-polluting electric equipment.
• Use hand tools. Get exercise with an old-fashioned leaf rake or reel mower, and you won't pollute at all.
• Grill smart. Lighter fluid contains VOCs that contribute to ozone. Use a charcoal chimney to start your grill, or switch to propane.
• Use low-VOC paints. Cut down on fumes with low-VOC paints, and use brushes or rollers instead of spray equipment.

  

• Join the club. Encourage your business to join Clean Air Partners. This regional coalition helps businesses create and implement clean-air programs.
• Turn off your monitor. Computer monitors are energy hogs. Upgrade to a more efficient model, or turn the monitor off while away from your desk.
• Recycle. On a company-wide scale, recycling saves even more.
• Carpool. Encourage carpooling by offering ride-matching services and incentives like parking upgrades and cash back.
• Telework. Let well-suited employees skip the commute and work from home, even just once a week.
• Take advantage of technology. Use conference calls and email to avoid driving to meetings. You'll reduce pollution and save time.
• Schedule later meetings. In ozone season, start meetings after 10 a.m. so employees can shift their commutes to non-peak times.
• Go paperless. Reduce paper waste and hazardous ink and toner by using electronic documents... and not printing emails.
• Right-size vehicles. Use the smallest suitable car from the vehicle pool, and make new purchases "green."
• Start a vanpool (or join). Vanpools offer the convenience of a carpool...without the responsibility of gas and vehicle maintenance.

  

• Pedal, paddle or swim. Enjoy the weather in a non-motorized way.
• Stay & play in your neighborhood. Instead of driving, shop locally, take walks, and reconnect with your neighborhood.
• Ride the bus. It's not just for work and school—buses run on weekends, too. And that can be a great time to test a route if you're not a regular rider.
• Pick up a friend. Pick up your friends when heading to the movies or a night on the town. Sharing the trip saves gas, and makes parking easier.
• Walk or jog. Instead of driving to the gym, try getting your exercise the old-fashioned way.

  

• Take the bus—Reduce single occupancy vehicle trips on Ozone Action Days (OZADs).
• Refuel after 6pm. Vapors from gasoline escape when you refill your tank. Fueling in the evening prevents those vapors from "cooking" all day long.
• Bring your lunch. Don't drive, pack! Or carpool to lunch with co-workers, or walk to a nearby eatery.
• Put off errands. If you can, delay your driving errands until the ozone is less severe.
• Share a ride. Even if it's not convenient to carpool daily, find a "buddy" to share rides with on OZADs.
• Don't mow the lawn. Gasoline mowers create pollution that forms ozone—skip the lawn work on Ozone Action Days, or wait until evening.
• Remind friends and co-workers. Spread the word, organize no-driving activities, and help people sign up for OZAD notifications.

What is Central Texas doing to help prevent ozone?