All yards and gardens need tools. While hand tools may be used for little work, other activities demand greater power. Thus gardeners must decide between using gas or electric yard equipment. This is a crucial choice if, like many gardeners or homeowners, you are becoming more concerned about your environmental effect.
Gas Lawn Mower Emissions
The majority of lawnmowers are gas-powered, but electric mowers are gaining ground. Considering an electric lawnmower is one of the best ways to lessen your negative environmental effect. When fossil fuels are burned, airborne toxins are released. These include other elements that increase local air pollution, poor air quality, and carbon dioxide (CO2), contributing to global warming.
Without a doubt, tools driven by petrol emit more pollutants than those by electricity. According to one research, a gas mower emits 6.2 kilograms of CO2 per acre compared to an electric mower’s 0.45 kilograms.
According to another test, a riding lawnmower generates 300 times more hydrocarbons than a modest pickup vehicle. The kind of motor is what accounts for this significant variation. A two-stroke engine used by lawn equipment necessitates mixing oil and gas. They generate much more pollution when you operate them because you burn oil.
Due to rules that restrict the number of pollutants they can emit, automakers have spent decades perfecting their engines. Lawn tool motors and engines do not have to follow the same rules. Compared to car engines, they are outdated, filthy, and polluting.
Regarding lawnmowers, there is another kind of emissions to consider. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), filling up lawnmowers causes 17 million gallons of petrol to leak each year. This gas enters your grass, but it also enters storm drains and adds to pollution. Despite your best efforts, a spill is always possible.
Electric vs. Gas Lawn Mower – Other Considerations
There are other factors to consider than emissions. There are other variations to take into account. These justifications also hold for other yard tool categories, such as trimmers and gas vs. electric leaf blowers:
- Costs – Electric lawnmowers and other products have a higher initial purchase price, but their operating costs decrease over time. Petrol is much more expensive than the energy needed to power the mower and charge its batteries.
- Convenience – There is no simple solution to the convenience problem. While some individuals find it more convenient to plug in or recharge the electric lawnmower batteries at home, others find filling the gas lawnmower’s tank simpler. Dealing with the wire on a plug-in mower may be less convenient. When using batteries, there may be unfavorable situations when the charge runs out before the task is complete.
- Noise and Odour – Electric mowers and blowers benefit greatly from this. Compared to gas tools, they are much quieter. Additionally, they don’t emit the foul odors that are so unpleasant to be around.
How to Purchase Eco-Friendly Lawn Equipment
Electric garden tools are the logical option if the environment is your top concern. It’s worth taking your time to conduct some research since they might be pricey. Choose if you want tools that are powered by batteries or plugs. Examine customer testimonials, warranties, and battery life.
Stick with one brand to swap the batteries if you anticipate buying more than one electric tool. Switching to electric lawn equipment needs changes if you’ve been using conventional gas-powered mowers & tools for years, but it’s beneficial for many reasons.
