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With the days getting longer, many homeowners’ thoughts turn to the work that waits in their yards. Many people associate air pollution with cars, airplanes, energy-producing facilities, and other large fuel consumers. The small engines used in lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, chain saws, and leaf blowers, however, represent a significant source of air pollutants.
Indeed, most small engines emit high levels of carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. In addition to CO, small engines emit ozone-forming hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Ground-level ozone impairs lung function and contributes to smog formation. According to the Government of Canada, a gasoline-powered lawn mower emits about 48 kilograms of greenhouse gases in one season.
There are ways to help clean the air while maintaining your yard. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Avoid Spills and Overfilling
· Spilling gas and overfilling the tank allow for gas to evaporate
· With evaporation, hydrocarbons are released into the atmosphere
Maintain Equipment
· Change oil and clean or replace air filters regularly
· Use the proper fuel/oil mixture in two-stroke equipment
· Keep blades sharp to improve fuel efficiency
Use Manual Tools
· No fuel required, which means no emissions produced
· An easy way to get exercise and have fun, without any pollution
Reduce Mowing Time
· The less time the mower is running, the less fuel is used
· Decrease lawn area with trees or shrubs or use low-maintenance turf grasses that grow slowly
Recycle old equipment
· Instead of sending old equipment to the landfill, send it to a recycling center
· Many lawn tools can be converted into raw materials for use in other products.
· Turn in your old high-polluting lawn mower at the nearest Home Depot between April 17-27, 2008 in return for an instant rebate of up to $100 on an energy-efficient, low-emission alternative.
· Mowers with newer engines are subject to stricter emissions standards, so they will likely burn cleaner than your old lawn mower.
