Wisconsin DNR Encourages Wisconsinites To Improve Air Quality During Clean Air Month

Sunday, May 19th, 2024 -- 7:33 AM

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages Wisconsinites to make small tweaks to their daily routines to improve the state’s air quality this Clean Air Month.

The average adult breathes about 20,000 times each day, and the quality of the air we breathe is influenced by decisions about how we each work, travel, play and maintain our homes. Making a few lifestyle choices may seem small, but even minor changes to energy use, consumption and waste habits can add up and positively impact air quality. Here are some simple things you can do to improve air quality in your area.

Travel Wisely: Vehicle emissions are one of the largest sources of ozone-forming pollutants. Replacing even one trip to work or the coffee shop a week with a walk or bike ride can add up. Regularly service vehicles and remove junk in the trunk. A properly working engine and inflated tires improve fuel efficiency, whereas mileage drops by roughly 4% for every 100 pounds of cargo a vehicle carries.

Consider Your Home and Yard: Use energy-efficient appliances and lighting. To help get started, explore home energy and efficiency grant and rebate programs. Use window shades to block sunlight and help lower the energy use and cost of air conditioning this spring and summer.  Keep your lawnmower blades sharp and mow during the evening hours. Don’t burn lawn clippings, yard waste or trash. Compost or recycle instead.

Recreate Responsibly: Grill without a guilty conscience using an electric grill, sustainably harvested charcoal or a charcoal chimney instead of lighter fluid, which can cause the release of carbon monoxide, particulate matter and soot. Enjoy a day on the water or trails in more sustainable ways by embracing silent sports, such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing, hiking or biking.

These changes don’t have to stop when Clean Air Month ends. For more ways to save, visit the DNR’s Do a Little, Save a Lot webpage for seasonal suggestions and tips to help reduce our impact on air quality year-round. The Clean Air Month webpage also has resources and links to Wisconsin air quality reports and trends.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.