Older cans can cause more spillage, and harmful emissions may be escaping from holes or the sprouts of these cans.ĭuring the day, ozone forms more easily. This change will improve the health of the lawn, as long grass blades improve overall moisture retention of the soil, and will thus reduce the amount of water needed to maintain the lawn. If an electric mower is inaccessible, people can choose to make smaller adjustments to their mowing habits, which limit the release of pollutants over the long term:Ĭut down on how often you mow-go from once a week to once every two weeks, for instance Electric mowers produce no emissions.Ī few quality electric mower options include: Although they are not nearly as price accessible or well suited for extra large lawns, the environmental benefits are immense. Electric mowers are lower maintenance and easier storage, and they don’t have a cord. On average, a good quality electric mower will cost more money, but over the span of 10 ten years, the cost will even out due to fuel and maintenance. Today, however, there are more affordable, long lasting options for homeowners. In the past, electric mowers and leaf blowers were eschewed because of a higher cost and limited battery life. “By 2020, gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and similar equipment in the state could produce more ozone pollution than all the millions of cars in California combined.”Īlthough this equipment is often overlooked as a significant source of pollutant, lawn equipment poses a clear environmental hazard, especially given how large the lawn care industry remains in America.Īs an alternative to two stroke or four stroke engines, homeowners can opt instead for electric engines. A sobering warning issued by the California Air Resources Board in 2017 reported the following: EPA data has found that gas-powered lawn mowers make up five percent of total air pollution in the United States, amounting to even more in urban areas. Furthermore, in the same year, another study demonstrated that a consumer grade leaf blower releases more hydrocarbons than a pick up truck or a sedan. A four stroke lawnmower operating for one hour equates to a vehicle traveling for 500 miles.Īccording to a study done by Quiet Communities, this equipment was responsible for the release of 26.7 million tons of pollutants in 2011. Four stroke engines are also used in some equipment, and while they are slightly more environmentally efficient, in total, they are also harmful. A 2014 study examined the VOC (combination of harmful gases) emissions of two stroke scooters, and it was found that the levels of emissions were 124 times higher from an idling scooter than from a car or truck. Due to this, about 30 percent of the fuel does not combust completely, thus releasing toxic gases into the air. ![]() ![]() Two-stroke engines pose a unique environmental hazard because they do not have an independent lubricant system, so fuel and oil are mixed. To fuel this equipment, it takes about 800 million gallons of gasoline annually, with 17 million additional gallons spilled in the process. Most lawn equipment is gasoline powered, typically being one of two types: two-stroke or four-stroke engines.
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