VEHICLES

The transportation sector is the biggest source of air pollution in Ontario. This is because the combustion process in engines releases contaminants that pollute our air.

The average car creates 225 grams of greenhouse gas and air pollutants per kilometre - enough to fill a teacup. If every driver in the province drove only 10 km less per year, we'd cut annual air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by 13,500 tonnes!

The Ontario Medical Association says that air pollution is responsible for 59,000 emergency room visits and 5,800 premature deaths every year. Poor air quality costs our province almost $10 billion a year. Cars and trucks aren't the only cause of this, but they are a major contributor, and we have the power ourselves to do something about it.

While cars and trucks contribute to smog, emissions from these vehicles affect us at the most local level. Research shows that, when vehicles are banned from city streets, hospitalizations for asthma go down. And air pollution gets worse the closer you live to a major road, especially one with frequent traffic jams.

The people of Atlanta know all about this. In 1996, the City implemented measures to reduce traffic during the Olympic Games. Studies showed that during the 17 days of the Games, there was a dramatic decrease in the number of children hospitalized because of asthma-related problems.

If You Really Must...

If you can't find an alternative way to get around, make sure you use your car in the most environmentally friendly manner possible.

• Drive the most environmentally friendly car possible. Here's something to remember when you're buying a car: If you drive 20,000 km a year, even a slightly more fuel-efficient car can save you 200 litres of gas and cut your emissions by 45 kg.
• Ensure that your vehicle is maintained regularly.
• Take action when the dashboard light tells you there's a problem because it could be something that is affecting fuel economy - a poorly tuned car can emit 10 times more pollution than a clean car.
• Carry a lighter load because it reduces the amount of gas required to get you from point A to point B.
• Be especially careful when refuelling - gasoline vapours harm you and the environment, contributing to ozone in the atmosphere.
• Avoid refuelling on Smog Days - if you must, do it in the early morning or evening.
• Don't fall for the urban myth that letting your car idle is better than restarting it. This is completely false. Starting your car uses about as much gas as 15 seconds of idling.

It's Not Only About The Gas

We all know about the importance of "driving clean" and making sure our car's exhausts meet tough emissions standards. As important as this is, there are many other ways that we can reduce pollution during the operation and maintenance of our vehicles.

Air conditioning

Driving without air conditioning increases fuel efficiency - a car with a 50-litre tank will get about 45 extra kilometres out of a tank of gas. This saves money, increases the life of your AC unit and protects the environment by reducing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere.

Freon, a CFC, was used in most auto air conditioners until 1995. CFCs deplete the stratospheric ozone layer and are linked to skin cancer, cataracts, damage to the human immune system and damage to crops and marine ecosystems.

All vehicles built after 1995 have air conditioning systems that operate on non-ozone-depleting alternatives such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) . and they pollute less.

• Always use a professional if you have to replenish the refrigerant in your vehicle's air conditioning system
• If your air conditioning system is leaking refrigerant, have it repaired - don't just refill it.

Changing oil

Did you know that the used oil from one oil change can contaminate more than 3.7 million litres of fresh water? That's enough water to supply 50 people for one year.

Changing oil keeps your engine running more smoothly; make sure you do it in a way that doesn't harm the environment.

• If you change the oil on your car, make sure you capture all of the oil.
• Don't put oil in the storm sewer system or on your driveway (it could end up in a sewer with the next big rainfall).
• Recycle used oil through local oil distributors, auto repair shops or commercial recycling services.

Lead batteries

Lead batteries contain toxic metals and corrosive lead-contaminated acids.

• Recycle lead batteries - most stores that sell them will accept them used for recycling.

Tires

Tires waste valuable space in landfills, attract mosquitoes and can - as we know all too well in Ontario - lead to major fires.

• Return old tires to the dealer when you purchase new ones.
• Don't throw out old tires you have sitting around the garage - contact your municipality to find out where to take them.