As individuals, we actually have as much direct impact on ozone levels as does industry and business. This is our chance to make a difference right here at home. These steps are easy -- they're inexpensive -- and if we all do our share, they add up. Here are some things that can help on Ozone Action Days.

In Your Car

• Limit your daytime driving. Consider a car pool or ride the bus to work. For short trips and errands, think about riding your bike or walking.

• When you drive, try to minimize "cold starts" by combining trips and errands so the catalytic converter on your vehicle remains warm. Most vehicle emissions occur in the first few minutes of engine operation, when the converter is cold and inefficient.

• Avoid jack rabbit starts. They use more fuel than your engine can efficiently burn.

• Reduce unnecessary engine idling by parking your automobile and walking into a building rather than using the drive-through lane.

• Refuel after dark. Avoid spilling gasoline, and stop when the pump shuts off automatically. Don't top off the tank.

• Maintain your vehicle according to the manufacturer's engine tune-up and emission control standards. The emissions from one poorly maintained car equal that from 25 properly-functioning cars!

• Keep tires properly inflated and change the oil on a regular basis. This can improve your vehicle's mileage by as much as 1.5 percent.

Around the House

• Postpone mowing your lawn on OZONE ACTION DAYS until evening. Or better yet, relax and mow another day!

• Keep your gasoline-powered lawn equipment in top running condition. Since lawn mowers and trimmers don't have catalytic converters, they put out a lot more pollution than you might think. Operating your lawnmower for one hour emits the same pollution as driving a 1992 model year car from Pittsburgh to Chicago.

• Conserve electricity. Don't overcool your home, and turn off lights and appliances that aren't in use. Wash clothes and dishes with full loads. Energy conservation not only helps the environment, but saves you money.

• Use latex rather than oil-base paints and solvents, and avoid using sprayers.

• If you don't have an electric or natural gas grill, avoid using charcoal lighter fluids. Try new ways of starting up your grill, such as a charcoal chimney