Policies and programs addressing gas-powered lawn equipment were found in 26 states plus D.C., in every region of the country, according to advocates from PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and CoPIRG who developed this interactive map for Environment New Jersey. Image by: Environment New Jersey
From our own publication to the Associated Press, from Yahoo News to local newspapers across the country, there has been no shortage of updates on the winds of change blowing around the issue of gas-powered leaf blower bans. This time of year often finds people taking stock of challenges and changes behind and ahead. I know it’s the case for me, especially as I mark another rotation around the sun when the calendar changes, and wonder how to make things a bit better for our world. So it seemed a good time to take stock of an issue weighing on the country and climate.
After taking in a representative roundup of gas-powered lawn mower news from across the country, and our site, it’s clear that change is not just coming, it’s here. A range of cities and towns have been working to support landscape companies, dealerships, large acreage property owners and those rural lifestylers looking to, in the words of REO Speedwagon, roll with the changes.
The Associated Press gets the nod for its summary of ban status, as Wayne Perry reported that gas-powered blowers are being targeted by governments across the country. He notes a ban in California started in July, and similar measures have passed in: Washington, D.C., Portland, Oregon; Montgomery County, Maryland; Burlington, Vermont; Evanston, Illinois; and Maplewood, New Jersey, among others. In fact, more than 100 cities across the U.S. have banned or restricted gas-powered leaf blowers.
Measurable Impacts
I’m a just-the-facts kind of person, so here are some to consider, courtesy of Environment New Jersey, which offers a comprehensive range of facts, resources and policy recommendations, including the following three key takeaways to put the topic into perspective:
- Gas-powered leaf blowers, snow blowers, lawnmowers, weed trimmers and chainsaws are some of the dirtiest tools in the shed. And with millions of them owned and operated across the country, their climate-warming pollution really adds up.
- In 2020, fossil fuel-powered lawn equipment emitted more than 30 million tons of carbon dioxide, the leading driver of climate change. To put that in context, that’s as much carbon pollution as comes out of the tailpipes of 6.6 million cars over the course of a year. And that’s more carbon pollution emitted by gas-powered lawn equipment in one year than was emitted by the entire city of Los Angeles in 2021.
- The latest reports from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warn us that urgent action is needed to avoid climate catastrophe. This past summer, we all felt it: the superpowered storms, floods, fires, heatwaves and more. And we know what’s causing it: our reliance on fossil fuels.
Benefits of Zero-Emission Equipment
In its ongoing efforts to support cleaner, quieter lawn equipment, the non-profit organization presents a compelling case. In an article titled 'Leaf blowers aren’t just noisy — they’re also huge climate polluters,' authored by Luke Metzger, Executive Director, Environment Texas, he writes, “Electric leaf blowers, mowers and more are getting easier and easier to find at major hardware stores. Dozens of options for electric mowers, trimmers and other types of equipment are currently on the market, and more are coming along all the time.” The organization offers resources and information, and reinforces that going electric options are the better choice for many reasons, including:
- Electric lawn equipment emits zero planet-warming emissions.
- Although electric lawn equipment can cost more upfront, they’re cheaper to own and operate than gas-powered equipment. They can save money over time due to lower fuel and maintenance costs — usually paying back the initial investment in just a few years.
- As an added bonus, electric lawn equipment is far quieter than gas-powered versions — a welcome relief to your hearing and your neighbors.
The organization notes that a greener, healthier world requires each of us to do all we can to eliminate the pollution and practices that are warming the planet and changing our climate, and asks a good question: what are we waiting for?
Interestingly, a resourceful article penned by Kirsten Schatz, a Colorado-based Clean Air Advocate, CoPIRG, offered myriad policy recommendations to move toward cleaner air. She writes, “States, municipalities, school districts, utility companies and others who want to take action to address the harmful pollution and noise produced by gas-powered lawn equipment in their communities have a lot of options. From restrictions on leaf blower use and bans on the sale of gas-powered equipment to financial incentives for cleaner, quieter electric equipment, there are many examples of actions communities have taken across the country to advance the transition to better lawn care.
Shatz, along with Ellie Kerns, a Climate and Clean Energy Advocate at PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, developed an interactive map, which can be found on Environment New Jersey website. In summarizing their research for the article, the authors write: “We found policies and programs to address gas-powered lawn equipment in 26 states plus D.C., in every region of the country. The actions range from restrictions on leaf blower use and bans on the sale of gas-powered equipment to financial incentives for people and businesses to switch to cleaner, quieter electric equipment.”
Another interesting resource was found in a compilation of videos embedded in one of the advocacy group’s articles, Electric Lawn Equipment 101, provides a snapshot overview of the benefits of electric blower options, primarily focusing on easy maintenance, cost savings and startup costs, less noise, time savings, performance, durability, battery life and retail opportunities. Like with any change, getting ahead of the trend requires dealers and consumers alike to remain open to the possibilities of healthier profits and a healthier planet.
Rather than spend words addressing the blowback to these efforts, I’m inclined to stay focused on how the lawn equipment industry has risen to the challenge of manufacturing an impressive range of electric products, not just lawn mowers, to meet the increasing demands of customers. The case studies of satisfied users, the financial incentives being optimized by and rebates offered to landscape contractors, and the overall impact on supporting the long-term health of both the industry and the Earth are hard to ignore. As clear at the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)-led Equip Expo, reported in multiple RLD news reports like this one, the winds of change are definitely blowing in the direction of innovation and adaptation from the country’s leading names in lawn equipment as well as those new to the scene whose product demos and discussions about benefits of going electric are stories we’ll be following throughout the year ahead.
