Did you know that individuals are responsible for nearly 60% of all air pollution in Marion County? With more than 1.7 million people calling central Indiana home, each of us can make a visible difference in the region's air quality by adopting a few clean air strategies.

2. Start a carpool or vanpool.
Carpooling or vanpooling is a great alternative to commuting to work, school or play alone each day. Not only are you helping reduce air pollution, you can also save money. Click here for a Commuter Cost Calculator.

In the nine county central Indiana region, Central Indiana Commuter Services provides mobility solutions and commute options free of charge. Please call (317) 327-RIDE or visit www.327RIDE.net for more information.

4. Refuel vehicles and equipment in the evening.
Sunlight plays an important role in smog formation. By waiting until the evening or the cooler part of a summer day, vapors that escape from gas pumps and cans as well as the exhaust from engines have less time to react to the sunlight. A good rule of thumb is to wait until after 6 p.m. to fill up any gas tank.

5. Mow your lawn and perform yard work in the evening.
Exhaust from small engines, like lawnmowers, contribute to ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution. In fact, industry experts say that a typical 3.5 horsepower gas mower engine can emit the same amount of volatile organic compounds – key precursors to smog  – in an hour as a new car driven 340 miles.

Lawn and garden equipment users inadvertently add to the problem by spilling 17 million gallons of fuel each year while refilling their outdoor power equipment. That's more petroleum spilled than the Exxon Valdez in the Gulf of Alaska.

Wait until after 6 p.m. to mow your lawn or to use gas-powered outdoor equipment whenever possible. If you need to purchase a new lawnmower, consider buying an electric-powered or reel mower. Both are environmentally friendly and cut down on noise pollution.

6. Service your car regularly and keep tires properly inflated.
Tune-ups, oil changes and proper tire inflation reduce emissions and save money.

7. Use a bicycle or walk short distances.
Riding a bike or walking short distances is one of the best ways to help clean the air and also helps improve your physical health. Remember, try to perform outdoor activities in the morning or evening when air pollution levels are lower.

8. Use water-based paints, stains and solvents.
Latex is water-based and contains fewer chemicals than oil-based paints. Latex paint is every bit as effective as oil paint indoors and out and uses less harmful chemicals. Also, the paint thinners and cleaners for latex paint are much less toxic.

There are also paints available with a low volatile organic compound (VOC) level. Many paints are made with a high percentage of VOCs so that they will dry faster. VOCs are a primary contributor to smog. Low-level VOC paints release fewer fumes in newly painted rooms as well as outside. Generally speaking, a paint that has a flat finish will have less VOCs than a glossy paint.

9.  Combine errands by planning ahead.
Less time in the car means that there are fewer harmful emissions being released into our air.

10.  Don't idle unecessarily. Turn off your car's engine when possible.
Instead of using a drive-thru lane, park and go inside instead. By not idling in a drive-thru, you are eliminating emissions that help the formation of ground-level ozone and fine particles. Plus, less gas is used, which means you will save money over the long-term.

11. Explore the possibilities of alternative-powered vehicles.
If you are in the market to purchase a new vehicle, consider a hybrid or flexible-fueled vehicle (like ethanol-based gasoline engines) to help reduce auto emissions and decrease gasoline costs. Twenty-four of the largest automobile manufacturers make low-emission vehicles.

12.  Avoid burning yard debris.
In Marion County, outdoor burning is limited to comfort fires and the burning of yard debris in a container with a mesh, fireproof lid. However, rather than burning materials that release fine particles into the air, consider mulching your yard debris and using it around trees and plants. The Indianapolis Department of Public Works also sponsors a free leaf collection program in the fall. For more information, please visit the DPW website .

(Of course, ordinances will vary in each community. Ask your local governing body if a similar ordinance exists in your community.)

13. Reduce your use of wood-burning fireplaces and stoves.
Limit the amount of wood you burn in your fireplace or wood stoves. When you do burn wood, select the dry, seasoned variety or consider purchasing wax and sawdust logs. If possible, use natural gas instead of wood.

14. Replace your appliances and light bulbs with energy-saving versions.
Though it sometimes seems that our individual electricity usage cannot have much effect on the air quality, we must remember that together, all our electricity usage adds up. Replacing 25% of your home lighting with fluorescent bulbs can save you 50% on the lighting portion of your energy bill while reducing air pollution.