SAVING GREEN: Welcome to the world of battery-powered mowers
The original version of this column credited the wrong author because of a Daily News error. It has been changed to accurately show that Leonard Garrison was the author.
I love my battery-powered lawnmower. And my string trimmer, hedge trimmer, leaf blower and snow blower. All are made by the same company and use an interchangeable battery. If I needed a chain saw, I would buy a battery-powered one. Not only are they cheaper and easier to use, but they are also much better for the environment.
Goodbye to gas cans and messy bottles of oil. All my former gas-powered equipment was difficult to start, especially after a season of idleness, requiring arduous, multiple pulls on the cord. On the other hand, electric machines start reliably with a push of a button. A fully charged battery gives me plenty of time to complete all my yardwork. There is next to no maintenance required. My machines are much quieter than my neighbor’s traditional ones and have plenty of power. The mower has a self-propelled feature that easily climbs my steep back yard.
You might be surprised at how far electric equipment has come. I used to own a corded hedge trimmer and cut the extension cord several times! I remember watching a neighbor struggle with a corded mower, like a dog on a leash. Now one doesn’t have to mess with a cord, and batteries just snap in. Charging them has a negligible effect on the monthly electric bill. Battery-powered equipment is now about the same price as gas-powered equivalents and just as highly rated at various consumer sites (my mower is the recommended one from Wirecutter).
Gas-powered lawn and garden equipment spews out huge amounts of toxic and carcinogenic particulates and gases. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, gas-powered lawnmowers can emit as much pollution in one hour as a car driven for 100 miles. In Latah County for the year 2020, it’s estimated that lawn equipment created 1,411 tons of carbon dioxide (the equivalent of 311 cars), 3.22 tons of nitrogen oxide (the equivalent of 1,439 cars), and .94 tons of fine particulates (the equivalent of 10,092 cars). The numbers for Whitman County were 1,642 tons of CO2, 3.65 tons of NOx, and 1.05 tons of fine particulates. That’s a lot of nasty stuff!
What if you have a large property? Battery-powered rider mowers have high upfront costs, but because of less maintenance and no fuel, can save money in the long run. A detailed study published by Williams College found that converting all their landscaping equipment to electric would be cost effective and have a much lower carbon footprint.
The next time you shop for a mower, trimmer, or other equipment, buy an electric battery-powered one. You’ll save money, and we’ll all thank you for the peace and quiet and the cleaner air.
Garrison is an Emeritus Professor of Music at the University of Idaho and a member of the Citizens' Climate Lobby of the Palouse.
