Air quality

Improve outdoor air quality

Improving how we travel and heat our homes can improve air quality.

• Avoid vehicle idling, if safe to do so switch off your engine when you are in stationary traffic or parked
• Drive less
• Use public transport
• Join a car share scheme
• Cycle / walk to work or school where practicable. To reduce your exposure to air pollution, please choose quieter route and keep back while waiting to cross the road. Avoid outdoor activities when air pollution level is likely to cause harm to your health.
• Consider buying low-emission electric or hybrid vehicles
• Insulate your home to reduce heating need
• Turn the thermostat down
• Upgrade boilers to more efficient gas condensing ones with lower NOx (and carbon) emissions
• If you own a wood burner or use open fire, please see Defra’s 2022 practical guide on open fires and wood-burning stoves.
• Avoid having bonfires. Further advices on bonfires are available on the Bonfires page.
• Think twice before setting off fireworks.

Improve indoor air quality

As most of us spend more time indoors than outdoors, exposure to indoor air pollutants could have more significant health effects. Below are a few things you can do to improve the indoor air quality in your home:

• Ensure sufficient ventilation, open windows if possible and safe, when using gas cookers / open solid-fuel fires / candles / cleaning products, household sprays and aerosols / air-dryer for clothes
• Choose materials and products with lower VOCs contents when buying furniture, flooring, paint etc.
• Do not use unflued paraffin heaters
• Do not smoke inside the house

In the unlikely event of high-pollution episode in your area, remain indoors as much as possible and close external doors and windows to reduce the penetration of pollutants from outside.