Grass needs to be cut? It's easy to go green 

Grass needs to be cut? It's easy to go green

Grass needs to be cut? It's easy to go green
Electric mowers a clean alternative to old gas guzzlers


Every summer, lawn mowers consume about 151 million litres of gas — one mower alone produces 48 kilograms of greenhouse gases in one season and as much air pollution as a car driven 550 kilometres.

Add to that the weed whackers and leaf blowers and you have enough emissions to choke a donkey. All told, lawn equipment accounts for 3 to 5 per cent of Canada's air pollution.

However, a remedy may be no farther than our own backyards.

Since 2001 when the Clean Air Foundation and The Home Depot started the Mow Down Pollution program, homeowners have retired more than 10,000 old gas-guzzling lawn mowers, with 90 per cent of them immediately purchasing cleaner alternatives with their $100 instant rebate.

"Based on what we know about old lawn mowers and polluting, Mow Down has been responsible for reducing smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions by over 200 tonnes," says Tracey Davies of the Clean Air Foundation (CAF), the program's manager.

Mow Down's lawn and garden expert for the program is Dr. Mow — also known as Dan Blair, manager of the seasonal department at the Gerrard St. Home Depot. A knowledgeable and vocal advocate for energy reduction, water conservation and clean alternatives, He's quick to commend the City of Toronto for a "great job in promoting a change of habits, with Energuide appliances, encouraging water conservation and banning certain chemicals."

But he says there's also been a "major contribution to clean air on an individual level."

If all things are equal — cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance — people will make a choice for the environment, he says. The newer machines are not only ecologically friendly, they're a lot less aggravating to operate and often less expensive. "Operating a gas mower," says Blair, "can be a pain —purchasing gas, storing it, adding gel over the winter, tinkering with the mechanics. And coughing or sputtering is a sure sign the lawn mower is about to give up the ghost."

The simplest alternative is the manual push mower. With no power source, it's environmentally friendly — and great exercise. And with garden design incorporating perennials, shrub borders, ponds and statuaries, and cutting back lawn size, big mowers are unnecessary.

A manual mower is also quiet. Blair says the noise pollution factor is a big one — he won't even stock gas-powered weed whackers or leaf blowers at his store. Switching to battery-powered, cordless electric, rechargeable or standard reel "gives a great cut, zero noise and zero emissions," he says.

One alternative is to get rid of the grass altogether and replace with mulch. Under the swing set or the backyard dining table, a variety of environmentally sensitive mulches, including pea gravel and shredded recycled tires, look good, are smooth under little feet and allow air and water access for plant growth. But Blair says too many people have memories of the spongy lawns of their youth to let them go entirely. "It's a strong pull but it doesn't mean you have to pollute."

One choice is an electric mower, which is not only easier on air quality but also safer than it used to be, coming either cordless with rechargeable batteries or with safety mechanisms to eliminate the chance of severing the cord. These mowers are also cheaper, costing less to purchase and to use.

For those who have large lawns to cut, however, a gas mower may have the power you need. The newer models have better emissions track records.

Cleaning up the air quality is only one part of the equation, though. What goes into the soil — and into the groundwater — is equally important. A proliferation of eco-friendly products, like diatomaceous earth and natural fertilizers like soil sponge, are very effective.

Lawns are notoriously thirsty, which is especially challenging during no-water advisory drought periods. Rain barrels are an easy solution, says Blair. At about $70 each, they're easy to install, can be stacked up, and come in half sizes for a closer fit to the side of the house.




More about power cord:
power cord ul power strip replica rolex replica watch china products
products from China china export china export export from china china wholesale china factories china suppliers chinese supplier import from China products made in China outdoors supplies apparel accessories china sporting Goods chinese electronics china computer Products computer accessory
camping supplies
footwear