SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S ENVIRONMENT At the Crossroads : CHECKLIST PITCHING IN TO REDUCE POLLUTION : Some Life Style Changes Can Help

Smog. Ocean pollution. Ground water contamination. Coastal overpopulation. Vanishing wildlife. Solid waste.

Never have environmental problems seemed so daunting and solutions so beyond reach.

But how individuals live--and the choices they make each day--have an impact on the environment--for better or worse. And, there are solutions.

Ride-sharing reduces traffic congestion and polluting emissions. Using products with less packaging eases the strain on landfills. Compact fluorescent light bulbs help forestall the need for new power plants.

Such life style changes also can yield personal financial benefits such as lower utility bills and transportation costs.

Some suggestions for individual action and the environmental problems they help alleviate:

TRANSPORTATION * Drive less. Car pool or take public transit. Tele-commute. Consolidate errands. * Drive higher-mileage cars. Minimize optional equipment that reduces mileage. Each car, on the average, emits five tons of carbon dioxide a year. * Keep motor vehicle engines tuned. * Use radial tires and inflate to maximum recommended pressure. * Observe speed limits. * Take used crankcase oil to a service station for recycling. HOME * Buy energy-efficient appliances. * Replace most-used conventional light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, which cost about $12 but last 10 times longer and use only one fourth the electricity. * Insulate your home. Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows. * Reduce use of fireplaces. * When fireplace is not in use, keep damper closed. * Plant trees. * Plant a vegetable garden. * Recycle chemical cleaning solvents. * Install water-saving devices in showers and toilets. * Landscape with plants appropriate to the climate. * Recycle glass, plastic, aluminum and newspapers. * Close off rooms not in use. Close heating/air conditioning vents in those rooms. * Keep furnace and air conditioning filters clean. * Turn off air conditioners when a room is not in use for several hours. It takes less energy to cool the hot room down later than if you left the unit running. * Repair leaks from faucets, garden hoses, toilets. * Insulate hot water heater and hot water pipes. GOODS AND SERVICES * Bring durable (canvas, string) shopping bags to market. Avoid paper or plastic grocery bags. * Reduce use of disposable packaging materials. * Avoid disposable plates, cups and utensils and paper towels. * Avoid products containing chlorofluorocarbons. Some CFC products are still on the market, including aerosol dust removers, plastic confetti makers, boat horns, and various cleaning sprays for electronic equipment such as sewing machines and VCRs. * When recharging air conditioners, try to find a service station that recycles the CFCs (Freon). * Don’t use halon fire extinguishers; use traditional extinguishers instead. * Don’t use disposable diapers.