Carbon Emission Percentage
Lawn equipment is not regulated in the same way as vehicles. They are not required to have catalytic converters which help eliminate much of the exhaust. Lawn mowers emit 11 times more pollution than driving cars. Each gas mower emits 88 pound of CO2 and 34 pounds of other pollutants each year.
Lawn equipment accounts for 26 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
This equates to problems for the environment and also problems for lawn and landscape workers. Lawn equipment produces the following gasses and effects:
Carbon Dioxide production
Headaches, dizziness, restlessness, difficulty breathing, sweating, tiredness, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, coma, asphyxia, and convulsions
Carbon Monoxide production
Replaces oxygen in the blood stream, causing heart disease and impairs alertness
Nitrogen Oxide production
Impairs breathing, increases lung infections
Ozone production
Irritates eyes, nose, and throat and increases asthma attacks
Lawn equipment accounts for 26 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
This equates to problems for the environment and also problems for lawn and landscape workers. Lawn equipment produces the following gasses and effects:
Carbon Dioxide production
Headaches, dizziness, restlessness, difficulty breathing, sweating, tiredness, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, coma, asphyxia, and convulsions
Carbon Monoxide production
Replaces oxygen in the blood stream, causing heart disease and impairs alertness
Nitrogen Oxide production
Impairs breathing, increases lung infections
Ozone production
Irritates eyes, nose, and throat and increases asthma attacks
Make a Change
More regulation of lawn equipment will help decrease carbon emissions by requiring emissions testing and placement of catalytic converters. Push your congress representatives for more regulations on lawn equipment.
Using a push mower instead of a power mower can significantly reduce the amount of CO2 emissions.
Electric mowers and other landscaping equipment reduce the amount of CO2 but don’t completely eliminate it due to emissions from the electric industry. This usage, however, is much more regulated.
Reel mowers eliminate the emission of CO2 entirely. Some even come in a hybrid type model that allow for an electric mode to assist with taller areas of grass.
Using alternative ground cover in place of grass is a great option to eliminate the need for lawn equipment all together. Here are some examples of alternative ground cover:
Clover:
Watering, mowing, and fertilizers are not needed. It stays green in dry weather, is inexpensive, and it is comfortable to walk around on.
Perennials:
These need borders to contain them, but they do not grow to be very tall. They on require weeding and mulching the first year and can be nitrogen fixing.
Ornamental Grasses:
These are low maintenance, drought resistance (after establishment), and require only one cut back per year.
Flower and shrub beds:
Use natural bark and landscape cloth for weed prevention, straw for vegetable crops, and grass clippings for mulch.
Change the shape of your lawn
Using flower and shrub beds to guard against corners, make rounded edges in your lawn. Adding as little as 25% cover with these beds can actually eliminate 50% of your lawn cutting time and energy. Also, set brick or flagstone edging below grass level to avoid the use of gas edging equipment.
Using a push mower instead of a power mower can significantly reduce the amount of CO2 emissions.
Electric mowers and other landscaping equipment reduce the amount of CO2 but don’t completely eliminate it due to emissions from the electric industry. This usage, however, is much more regulated.
Reel mowers eliminate the emission of CO2 entirely. Some even come in a hybrid type model that allow for an electric mode to assist with taller areas of grass.
Using alternative ground cover in place of grass is a great option to eliminate the need for lawn equipment all together. Here are some examples of alternative ground cover:
Clover:
Watering, mowing, and fertilizers are not needed. It stays green in dry weather, is inexpensive, and it is comfortable to walk around on.
Perennials:
These need borders to contain them, but they do not grow to be very tall. They on require weeding and mulching the first year and can be nitrogen fixing.
Ornamental Grasses:
These are low maintenance, drought resistance (after establishment), and require only one cut back per year.
Flower and shrub beds:
Use natural bark and landscape cloth for weed prevention, straw for vegetable crops, and grass clippings for mulch.
Change the shape of your lawn
Using flower and shrub beds to guard against corners, make rounded edges in your lawn. Adding as little as 25% cover with these beds can actually eliminate 50% of your lawn cutting time and energy. Also, set brick or flagstone edging below grass level to avoid the use of gas edging equipment.
Sources:
|
|