In the USA, 5 – 10% of the nation’s air pollution has its origins in the operation of petrol powered lawn equipment.
Due to a lack of emissions controls, a petrol lawn mower can generate as much pollution as an SUV driven thousands of kilometres and lawn mowing across the nation is responsible for the consumption of 2.2 billion litres of petrol each year.
Fort Collins, Colorado based Clean Air Lawn Care is addressing the problem by using equipment such as electric lawn mowers powered by renewable energy that have the added bonus of being 50-75% quieter than their petrol counterparts.
The vehicles hauling the electric equipment also have mounted solar panels which help charge the electric mowers and other tools during the workday. Its larger mowers are run on locally produced biofuels. Any greenhouse gas emissions generated by the service are offset by wind power and carbon offsets.
The company says it saves USD $10,000 a year on petrol and spends less than USD $500 to charge the equipment through renewable energy.
In addition to its low impact equipment, grass clippings are mulched when possible, composted on site, or removed to an organic waste recycling center. the company also offers an all-natural, organic treatment & fertilization program.
In 2009, Clean Air says it avoided 34 tonnes of air pollution.
Entrepreneur Magazine identified Clean Air Lawn Care as one of the top 5 green franchises in America last year. Clean Air Lawn Care’s approach certainly resonates with environmentally conscious home owners; so perhaps we’ll see similar services appearing in Australia soon.
