Air pollution damages our planet’s biodiversity. The air that we breathe is full of toxic and dangerous contaminants. Every year millions of people die due to various pollution-related issues. We need to identify air pollution sources and find realistic ways to combat air pollution.
Air pollution affects the environment as it can prevent photosynthesis in plants, which eventually has serious consequences on the air that we breathe. Also, it contributes to acid rain formation.
Following are some actions we can take in order to address air pollution and pollution in general:
- Use public transportation
Try to walk to school or work whenever possible. Share rides with others going in the same direction or use public transport.
- Avoid any sort of outdoor activities when air pollution levels are elevated.
Do not exercise in the vicinity of congested roads, since the gasses produced by traffic significantly increase risk of our respiratory system.
- Turn off electrical devices/lights when not in use
Do not keep your lights on if you are not in the room. Do not keep electrical devices in stand-by mode, because even than they consume a certain amount of electricity.
- Go solar
We understand that not every home in Balkans can afford solar panels but those are getting cheaper nowadays, and hopefully someday soon we’ll use more the solar energy source than energy produced in traditional ways.
- Use good old-fashioned clothesline for drying your clothes
Use clothesline for drying clothes instead of a dryer as the dryers are notorious for consuming too much energy.
- Use recyclable products
This is because usually it takes less energy to recycle a product than to make a new one.
- Limit usage of single-use plastic bags
It takes more than 500 years for a plastic bag to decompose on a landfill. Use canvas/cotton bags or reusable paper bags instead of plastic bags.
- Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
Modern rechargeable batteries can be recharged more than 1000 times, which makes them much more convenient for use than regular, disposable batteries. Buy yourself a set of rechargeable batteries with a charger and avoid disposable ones.
- Avoid appliances without ENERGY STAR symbols
ENERGY STAR is a symbol for energy-efficient products and was established with intent to reduce the inefficient use of energy. We have all seen those on our appliances at home. Energy stars rates home appliances based on their efficiency and labels them by a simple star rating – the more stars appliance has on the label, the more energy efficient the appliance is.
- Spread the word about environmental issues
Educate your colleagues, friends and family about importance of reducing the carbon footprint and ways to contribute to green initiatives.
- How will I know when conditions are better?
At the moment we are monitoring the air quality situation in Mitrovica with 2 air quality sensors in real-time. Our plan is to expand the network with at least 2 more sensors.
Click on the link below to check the air-quality for Mitrovica.
http://www.ibcmitrovica.eu/inform/air-quality/
