Quote:
Originally Posted by MandoMan
I read this morning that in a half hour, the pollutants spewed by the average two-cycle engine in a leaf blower equals the pollution from a Ford F-150 pickup—over a 3,600 mile drive! California has recently banned gas-powered leaf blowers, edgers, trimmers, lawnmowers, etc. use by lawn care companies because the pollution they put out is equal to the pollution from ALL the cars in California. It seems that battery-powered equipment, recharged at night, has reached the level where by having multiple batteries, crews can work all day without recharging. (All of my power tools are now battery-powered, including my Sawsall and my full-size circular saw and my big drill.) Battery-powered tools are also much quieter. For homeowners in The Villages with lawns, an electric mower with a cord may make more sense.
Should the appropriate governing units here follow the lead in California and require lawn crews to use battery-powered tools?
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I think we should have all the actual stats on the negatives of battery operated vehicles and tools also. We need to think these things ALL the way through. What is the downsize to batteries; what cost to make, how long useful, what chemicals involved (those could also be considered "pollution", what is the cost analysis of a battery powered lawn mower and a gas powered ? What is the life expectancy of each, same with golf carts, same with automobiles... perhaps CHOICE is the best answer, depends on the situation of the consumer. What could be helpful to our neighborhoods, might be restricting certain days for lawn services in various villages. In many subdivisions, commercial lawn work has restricted days and even hours. It works well. Mowing services still have full time work, just that homeowners in a particular area must have work done on, say Tuesdays or Wednesdays. What this prevents is 7 day a week, even Sundays like here, non stop noise of gas engines at a different house every day. It works, no one is denied work, just different areas on different days, and, peace and quiet on the weekends. Might do as much as forcing everyone, home owners and lawn services to purchase all battery operated equipment ? Maybe the real answer is the natural law.... if most of us find we prefer an electric tool after trying it, people will buy more of them and the gas mowers, etc. will sit on the shelves and lots.... and gradually the superior product will prevail... build a better mouse trap and they will come.. Oh, no, that was Field of Dreams, build a better mouse trap and they will BUY. Time will tell which people will prefer, or like golf carts, an endless 50-50 split with fans of each having many legitimate points !
