Let’s be real — Californians love their sunshine, their cars and their In-N-Out drive-thrus. But all that driving, idling and energy use adds up. In fact, more than 90% of Californians live in areas with unhealthy air at some point during the year, according to the Coalition for Clean Air.
Today’s California Clean Air Day is a great reminder that even small changes in daily routines can help clear the air — literally. Whether you’re commuting, cooking or charging your phone, your choices matter.
Southern California Edison's parent company, Edison International, is a California Clean Air Day sponsor and encourages communities to not only “Take the Pledge,” but also stay involved in simple yet powerful actions for Clean Air Day.
Here are five easy ways to make a difference this Clean Air Day and beyond:
- Skip the drive-thru and walk inside. Idling your car while waiting in line creates unnecessary pollution. Parking and walking in are better for the air — and your step count.
- Charge devices during the day. If you have solar panels — or live in a neighborhood with lots of solar energy — charging phones, laptops or even EVs during daylight hours helps use renewable energy.
- Opt out of using an oven. On hot days, cooking with an oven heats up your home and makes your air conditioning work harder. Try a microwave, air fryer or electric pressure cooker to keep things cool and efficient.
- Try a “no delivery” day. Skip online orders for a day and combine errands into one trip. Fewer delivery trucks on the road means less traffic and less pollution.
- Talk about it. Share what you’re doing with friends, family or coworkers and encourage them to join you in taking the Clean Air Pledge.
Whether you take one action or all five, your choices help create cleaner air for everyone. Each pledge helps California get closer to its goal of reducing greenhouse gases and becoming carbon neutral by 2045.
To learn more about SCE's commitment to a clean energy future, visit edison.com/cleanenergy.
