Fort Collins, CO - The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) just released the proposed 2009 LEED Green Building Rating System for public comment before the system is finalized this fall. The use of electric lawn care equipment will soon be one way to get a point towards a building’s green certification! Public comment for the updated document ends in June. This rating system applies to any existing building seeking LEED certification for the first time and to projects previously certified under LEED for New Construction or Core & Shell. This requirement can be found in the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Management Rating System on page 15.
It’s easy to see why the USGBC made the addition. During the summer, 54 million American’s mow their lawns every weekend. Not only are 54 million people mowing their lawns, but gallon for gallon, 2006 lawn mower engines contribute 93 times more smog-forming emissions than 2006 cars, according to the California Air Resources Board. The EPA estimates that 5-10% of all air pollution comes from lawn equipment.Kelly Giard, CEO of Clean Air Lawn Care, has been following the progress of the USGBC. “We are excited to see this addition to the LEED Green Building Rating System. Landscaping is a big part of a building’s maintenance and ecological footprint and it makes sense to include environmentally friendly practices outside as well as inside a building.”
Clean Air Lawn Care is a lawn maintenance company that uses clean electric and biodiesel powered equipment. The vehicles hauling this equipment have mounted solar panels which charge the electric equipment during the workday. The equipment is clean and quiet; the business is carbon neutral. Clean Air Lawn Care began franchising nationally in 2008.
In addition to the inclusion in the LEED rating system, Clean Air Lawn Care recently became a green power partner with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Green Power Partners help to reduce the risks associated with climate change by supporting technologies that are more sustainable for businesses and communities. For more information visit: www.epa.gov/greenpower. The green power and carbon offsets Clean Air purchases are equivalent to reducing the emissions from 185 barrels of oil.
www.cleanairlawncare.com
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Is There A Greener Way to Mow?
Going ‘green’ is the ‘in’ thing to do, but are homeowners overlooking the green in their yard when ‘greening’ their lives? Your grass isn’t nearly as green as it looks if you’re still using a gas-guzzling, pollution-spewing lawn mower, but is cutting your grass with a reel mower the only way to be green?
Most homeowners are shocked to learn that the conventional gas-powered lawn mower they or their lawn service provider use throughout the summer months actually emit more pollution than their vehicles. According to one U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study, in one hour, one lawn mower emits the same amount of total (all pollutants) air pollution as a vehicle driven 100 miles and the same volume of hydrocarbons as a 1992 Ford Explorer driven 23,600 miles. The main pollutants associated with lawn mowers and other lawn equipment are the same as those from any other fossil fuel-burning internal combustion engine: hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Hydrocarbons are a volatile organic compound (VOC) that reacts with NOx in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone, a major health hazard during summer months. CO is also a threat to human health as it inhibits the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Finally, CO2 is a greenhouse gas and a major contributor to climate change. The small engines in lawn mowers, trimmers and blowers used by conventional lawn service providers disproportionately emit these pollutants because the engines are not equipped with the pollution-reducing catalytic converters that come standard on internal combustion vehicles.
So you are probably wondering, “Are there any viable and affordable alternatives to my dirty gas lawn mower?” Absolutely. And, they’re getting better all the time. You could start by looking into the reel mowers mentioned earlier. These are the manual mowers that are as powerful as the person pushing them and 100% emissions-free. You won’t find too many lawn service providers or opportunities franchise using these mowers however, so if you’re looking for someone to mow your lawn for you or for something a little more automated, you’ll have to look toward electric mowers or those that run on alternative fuels.
Electric mowers have come a long way over the last 10-15 years. In the early development of the electric mower, users struggled with a lack of horsepower and short battery life or dangerous power cords. This led many in the lawn service industry to overlook the potential of electric mowers in their field or as an opportunities franchise. Recently, however, companies like Black & Decker and Neuton have come out with cordless electric mowers comparable in power and price to their gas-guzzling counterparts and lawn care franchises are popping up around the nation using these clean and quiet mowers. Electric mowers are emissions-free, emitting 3,000 times less hydrocarbons, 5,000 times less CO, 1/5th as much NOx and less than half the CO2 as gas lawn mowers. The few emissions that are associated with electric mowers are from the conventionally (coal, natural gas etc.) generated electricity used to charge the mowers. When the mowers are charged with solar, wind or other renewable energy, the emissions are reduced to zeroes across the board. In more and more cities around the country, homeowners can sign up for wind energy to charge their electric mower or they can hire an eco-friendly lawn service company.
Electric mowers are also appealing to homeowners, apartment complexes, business parks, schools, and hospitals because they are quiet. Conventional gas mowers run at an average of 100 decibels; anything over 90 decibels can cause ear damage. Electric mowers, on the other hand cut noise emissions by 50 – 70%.
The other option is to use biodiesel in a traditional diesel mower or retrofit a gas mower to use ethanol. The emissions reduction associated with both fuel types is determined by the origin and composition of the fuel. For example, biodiesel made from waste vegetable oil has a lower emissions factor than biodiesel made from virgin crops produced specifically for biodiesel because waste veggie oil is considered recycled. Also, B100 (biodiesel made from 100% biofuels) has significantly lower emissions than B20 since the latter fuel is only 20% biofuel and 80% conventional diesel. Unfortunately, there is no noise reduction associated with the use of these types of fuel.
The cost associated with retrofitting your existing mower or upgrading to an electric mower depends on the mower you choose and the fuel you use, but the costs are fairly comparable to buying a new gas mower. States and municipalities, particularly those with air pollution issues, frequently offer rebate and/or incentive programs to encourage property owners to use cleaner equipment. Don’t forget to green your lawn when you green your life!
www.cleanairlawncare.com
Most homeowners are shocked to learn that the conventional gas-powered lawn mower they or their lawn service provider use throughout the summer months actually emit more pollution than their vehicles. According to one U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study, in one hour, one lawn mower emits the same amount of total (all pollutants) air pollution as a vehicle driven 100 miles and the same volume of hydrocarbons as a 1992 Ford Explorer driven 23,600 miles. The main pollutants associated with lawn mowers and other lawn equipment are the same as those from any other fossil fuel-burning internal combustion engine: hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Hydrocarbons are a volatile organic compound (VOC) that reacts with NOx in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone, a major health hazard during summer months. CO is also a threat to human health as it inhibits the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Finally, CO2 is a greenhouse gas and a major contributor to climate change. The small engines in lawn mowers, trimmers and blowers used by conventional lawn service providers disproportionately emit these pollutants because the engines are not equipped with the pollution-reducing catalytic converters that come standard on internal combustion vehicles.
So you are probably wondering, “Are there any viable and affordable alternatives to my dirty gas lawn mower?” Absolutely. And, they’re getting better all the time. You could start by looking into the reel mowers mentioned earlier. These are the manual mowers that are as powerful as the person pushing them and 100% emissions-free. You won’t find too many lawn service providers or opportunities franchise using these mowers however, so if you’re looking for someone to mow your lawn for you or for something a little more automated, you’ll have to look toward electric mowers or those that run on alternative fuels.
Electric mowers have come a long way over the last 10-15 years. In the early development of the electric mower, users struggled with a lack of horsepower and short battery life or dangerous power cords. This led many in the lawn service industry to overlook the potential of electric mowers in their field or as an opportunities franchise. Recently, however, companies like Black & Decker and Neuton have come out with cordless electric mowers comparable in power and price to their gas-guzzling counterparts and lawn care franchises are popping up around the nation using these clean and quiet mowers. Electric mowers are emissions-free, emitting 3,000 times less hydrocarbons, 5,000 times less CO, 1/5th as much NOx and less than half the CO2 as gas lawn mowers. The few emissions that are associated with electric mowers are from the conventionally (coal, natural gas etc.) generated electricity used to charge the mowers. When the mowers are charged with solar, wind or other renewable energy, the emissions are reduced to zeroes across the board. In more and more cities around the country, homeowners can sign up for wind energy to charge their electric mower or they can hire an eco-friendly lawn service company.
Electric mowers are also appealing to homeowners, apartment complexes, business parks, schools, and hospitals because they are quiet. Conventional gas mowers run at an average of 100 decibels; anything over 90 decibels can cause ear damage. Electric mowers, on the other hand cut noise emissions by 50 – 70%.
The other option is to use biodiesel in a traditional diesel mower or retrofit a gas mower to use ethanol. The emissions reduction associated with both fuel types is determined by the origin and composition of the fuel. For example, biodiesel made from waste vegetable oil has a lower emissions factor than biodiesel made from virgin crops produced specifically for biodiesel because waste veggie oil is considered recycled. Also, B100 (biodiesel made from 100% biofuels) has significantly lower emissions than B20 since the latter fuel is only 20% biofuel and 80% conventional diesel. Unfortunately, there is no noise reduction associated with the use of these types of fuel.
The cost associated with retrofitting your existing mower or upgrading to an electric mower depends on the mower you choose and the fuel you use, but the costs are fairly comparable to buying a new gas mower. States and municipalities, particularly those with air pollution issues, frequently offer rebate and/or incentive programs to encourage property owners to use cleaner equipment. Don’t forget to green your lawn when you green your life!
www.cleanairlawncare.com
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