Would you like to do something positive for the environment and save money at the same time? By "going green" you can take steps to reduce pollution in the air we breathe. Many of these steps also help you save some green...money that is. Select from the menu below steps you can take to help improve air quality for the San Antonio region.

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Be an Energy Sage	Turn off lights and appliances when not in use	Savings vary depending on appliances in use, but consider this example. A ceiling fan does not change the temperature of a room, it only makes you feel cooler because of the "wind chill" effect on your skin. Leaving a fan turned on in an unoccupied room does nothing but waste electricity.
	Put your computer monitor to sleep	...save ~$25.00/year Monitors can be set to turn off automatically when there is no computer activity for a specified amount of time. For details, visit the New American Dream's computer page.
	Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)	...save ~$30.00/bulb CFLs use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer.
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Start Your Morning Commute Off Right	Take advantage of staggered work shifts, if offered by your employer	Avoiding rush hour traffic is a plus in more ways than one. It saves you money because you don't have to idle your vehicle’s engine as often and it's also less stressful for you.
	Avoid driving on congested roadways; visit Transguide for the latest traffic information	Same benefit as above.
	Consider joining a carpool or vanpool	More fun, less stress Annual savings depends on the length of your commute and the number of days/week you carpool. Use the Commute Cost Calculator to determine your annual savings.
	Go easy on the accelerator and brake pedal	...save ~$340/yearAggressive driving wastes fuel. A typical aggressive driver has to buy an extra 125 gallons of gas each year.
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	Combine errands	Your vehicle runs more efficiently when the engine is warm. When you combine errands, you’re taking advantage of that efficiency.
	Avoid using drive-through lanes at banks and restaurants	An idling engine is getting 0 miles per gallon
	Turn off your ignition rather than idle your vehicle’s engine at school drop off and pick up areas	See above.
	Avoid driving at excessive speeds	Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. For example, driving a typical passenger vehicle at 75 mph uses 18% more gasoline than driving at 65 mph.
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	Practice wise energy choices at work (see lighter fare)	Besides the undying gratitude of your boss for saving the company money, you’re setting a good example for others to follow.
	Encourage your employer to adopt an "Energy Star" procurement policy	The boss' gratitude thing again.
	Walk to a nearby restaurant for lunch or take your lunch to work.	Use the Commute Cost Calculator to estimate the amount of "green" you’ll be saving with this tip.
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	Check your vehicle’s tire pressure once a week.	You can improve your gas mileage by more than 3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Other benefits: properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
	Change your air and oil filters regularly.	...~$150/year Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your vehicle’s gas mileage by as much as 10% or about 55 gallons of gas a year.
	Travel light. Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle.	Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 lbs in the trunk reduces a typical car’s fuel economy by 1-2 percent.
	Avoid using your vehicle's roof rack.	If you have to transport extra items, it’s better to place them in the trunk than on a roof rack. A loaded roof rack increases aerodynamic drag and decreases your fuel economy by about 5%.
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Save Money at the Gas Pump	Don’t overfill your gas tank; stop at the click.	Spilling gas is throwing money on the ground. In terms of air quality, spilling one ounce of gasoline creates the same ozone-producing pollutants as driving a car 56 miles.
	When replacing your gas cap, continue turning until it clicks 3 times	Improperly seated gas caps allow 147 million gallons of fuel to vaporize every year in this country.
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These sweet menu items help reduce pollution on days when our air needs the most help – Air Quality Health Alerts	Wait until after 6:00 pm to refuel your gas tank
	Don't use gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Health Alerts.
	Consider walking or bicycling for short trips rather than using your vehicle.
	Register to receive free Air Quality Health Alert notifications so you know when air pollution levels are expected to be high.
Contact Information (email or phone):

Why is taking out air pollution important?
During the summer months, the San Antonio region typically experiences periods when air pollution reaches unhealthy levels. Air pollution affects everyone, even healthy individuals. But air pollution is particularly harmful to sensitive groups: children, the elderly, people who are active outdoors, and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma.

The negative impacts of air pollution don’t end with human health; dirty skies can also be detrimental to plants and pose other environmental hazards. If air pollution levels are bad enough in the summer of 2007, our region will be in violation of federal air pollution standards, which could impact economic growth in the San Antonio area.

Where does air pollution come from?
The majority of air pollution is man made and stems from such activities as burning fuels (e.g., gas, diesel, coal, wood) and using solvents (e.g., paint, cleaning products, ink). A significant portion of the air pollution in San Antonio originates in other regions. However, we are responsible for much of the problem as well. In fact the largest local source of air pollution is something most of us use everyday – the vehicles we drive.

We’re all part of the problem. But the good news is, we’re all part of the solution. Do the green thing – take out air pollution.

For more information and help with implementing these steps in your daily activities, contact Brenda Williams, (210) 362-5246 or bwilliams@aacog.com.

Natural Resources Outreach Brenda Williams Projects Manager Alamo Area Council of Governments 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 700 San Antonio, TX 78217 (210) 362-5200