Air Quality & Emissions: Eco-Friendly Checklist

Air quality and emissions are important areas to consider when finding opportunities to live more sustainably. This could be at a larger scale with pollution from your car or gas appliances/equipment, or even at a more micro-scale in terms of air quality in your home.

This is not an exhaustive list of course, but here are a few ideas to get you started on improving your sustainability from the perspective of air quality and emissions.

Want to check out more than just this topic? See our full eco-friendly home checklist!

Checklist

  • Change air filters regularly
  • Zero VOC paint
  • Air purifying house plants
  • Natural lawns or maintenance-free landscaping
  • Gas free landscape maintenance tools
  • Buy from local farms
  • Buy from local owned shops
  • Reduce frequency of shopping trips

Download & Print

You can make a copy of this checklist in Google Sheets, allowing you to customize however you see fit. You can also print a copy from Google Sheets once it’s copied if desired.

View the sheet first and make a copy via File > Make a copy or simply click the “Make a Copy” button below.

Google Sheet Checklist
Make a Copy

Change air filters regularly

 Impact: Low
 Effort: Easy
 Cost: Approximately $5 - $10 per filter for thin, $7 - $15 per filter for thicker

It's recommended to change thin filters (1 - 2 inch) at least every 3 months thicker filters (4 - 5 inch) every 6 months

Zero VOC paint

 Impact: Low
 Effort: Easy
 Cost: Comparable to other paints

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are found in some paints and are harmful to breathe in. Some VOCs are potentially deadly carcinogens. This has a higher impact in a micro scale in your home than it does for the larger planet, but every bit helps!

Air purifying house plants

 Impact: Low
 Effort: Easy
 Cost: You can buy a few plants for $10-$20 and then propagate them to have more. Or get some clippings from a friend for free!

Great air purifying plants like ivy, peace lilies, or snake plants can be great to have around your home. They can detoxify your living space, ridding your home of airborne toxins and pumping out fresh clean air. Not to mention they look wonderful.

Natural lawns or maintenance-free landscaping

 Impact: High
 Effort: Somewhat Difficult
 Cost: Cost can vary significantly depending on the size of your lot and your specific design.

Avoiding grass that needs regular cutting and maintenance can save on harmful emissions from lawn equipment, enhance the natural landscape, and save you money. Consider natural lawns with wildflowers or tall grasses, hardscaped areas, mulch beds, or rocks.

Gas free landscape maintenance tools

 Impact: High
 Effort: Somewhat Difficult
 Cost: You can typically find an electric lawn mower and weed whip for around $400 or better, depending on your needs and location.

Emissions from lawn equipment like gas powered mowers, weed whackers, edgers, etc. can contribute significantly to harmful environmental impact. Opting for electric lawn equipment, either plug-in or battery powered, can help you avoid contributing.

Buy from local farms

 Impact: High
 Effort: Somewhat Difficult
 Cost: Sometimes food from local farms can cost a bit more, but it's worth the quality and impact.

Depending on where you live, local farms may be less accessible. Supporting local farmers can reduce the demand for mass produced food items, emissions from transportation, and you'll have better, cleaner, and healthier food if you find a good organic farm nearby.

Buy from local owned shops

 Impact: Medium
 Effort: Somewhat Difficult
 Cost: Depending on what you're buying, independently owned stores could be a little more costly, but are typlically somewhat comparable.

Buying locally cuts down on the emissions and harmful effects of transportation of custom ordered items or large distribution channels. Plus, you are supporting your hometown, which is always a plus.

Reduce frequency of shopping trips

 Impact: Medium
 Effort: Easy
 Cost: This one will actually save you money by using less gas or transportation expenses!

Planning ahead and buying bulk when you can will avoid multiple trips to the store - saving on emissions from your car, gas in your tank, and your time.

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Citations for This Article

APA

Plonkey, Jim. (February 6, 2023). Air Quality & Emissions: Eco-Friendly Checklist. Natural Replacements. Retrieved December 3, 2024, from https://naturalreplacements.com/learn/community/air-emissions-eco-friendly-checklist/

MLA

Plonkey, Jim. "Air Quality & Emissions: Eco-Friendly Checklist." Natural Replacements, https://naturalreplacements.com/learn/community/air-emissions-eco-friendly-checklist/

Chicago

Plonkey, Jim. "Air Quality & Emissions: Eco-Friendly Checklist." Natural Replacements, Last modified February 6, 2023. https://naturalreplacements.com/learn/community/air-emissions-eco-friendly-checklist/

Jim Plonkey

Jim Plonkey is a Co-founder of Natural Replacements. A digital marketing professional with a passion for sustainability, Jim lives in Southeast Michigan and enjoys traveling to new places, spending time outdoors - kayaking, hiking, and gardening, and yoga.

Content on the Natural Replacements is produced under the guidance of our editorial standards.

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Written By: Jim Plonkey

Updated: February 6, 2023

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