FloresJaredGoFixIt

Jared Flores Go Fix It: Electric Mowers 54 million Americans mow their lawns on each weekend, and one simple way that people can help the environment is by switching from gas powered mowers to electric mowers. A good 83% of lawn mowers sold annually are powered by gas. Gas powered mowers, while their emissions do seem small compared to most producers of hydrocarbons, do produce a considerable amount of pollution. Some facts about gas powered lawn mowers include:  · 5% of hydrocarbon emissions can be contributed to gas mowers  · Gas mowers emit CO, CH4, CO2, and NO2  · Gas-powered mowers produce more hydrocarbon emissions per hour than the average car due to lack of emission control  · Gas-powered mowers usually range from $100 to $400 in price, depending on the model Gas-powered lawn mowers are often overlooked by emission reduction strategies. This is because most of the focus is placed on the obvious problem: vehicles. However, if left unchecked, gas mowers pose a serious threat to the environment. Most people mow their lawns about twice a month, possibly three times. Considering that just about every self respecting home owner mows their lawn, this means a lot of hydrocarbons are emitted. The average lawn mower emits about 600 grams of CO2 per hour, whereas the average car releases about 20 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon of fuel burned. Cars, however, have better emission control, so only a portion of that CO2 is released into the atmosphere. Electric lawn mowers do not feature any of the harmful emissions displayed in gas mowers. They also cost as little as $200, so their price is by no means unreasonable. Also, electric powered mowers tend to have a longer lifetime than their gas-powered counterparts, and usually help families to save money as well as the environment. Electric mowers don’t produce any air pollution, and have been shown to make less noise than gas mowers. Also, electric mowers are easier to use because they do not require the purchase of any separate oil; all they need is a source of electricity. Admittedly, electric mowers do have their limitations. They are limited either by the length of their cord, or by their batteries, which do not last as long as the fuel used to power gas motors, and are better suited for small yards. Electric mowers also cost less money to maintain than do gas mowers, as, naturally, electricity is cheaper than gasoline. Electric mowers also do not need frequents repairs do keep them running like gas mowers do, and they can be more conveniently stored in a garage. Also, being exposed to gas mowers’ emissions can contribute to heart disease, lung disease, and cancer. Electric mowers are probably the most reasonable green alternative because unlike push mowers, they do not require a back breaking amount of physical effort, and unlike solar powered mowers, that do not require good, clear, sunny days and about $2500 to purchase. So, in terms of saving the environment but also not causing yourself a huge inconvenience, the electric mower is the way to go. References:

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[] Morris, Jeffrey and Bagby, Jennifer. “Measuring Environmental Value for Natural Lawn and Garden Care Practices”. Int J LCA 2008. 7 July 2008. Web. 26 April 2010. M. W. Priest, D. J. Williams and H. A. Bridgman. “Emissions from in-use lawn-mowers in Australia”. Elsevier Science B.V. 1999. Atmospheric Environment, Volume 34, Issue 4, January 2000. Web. 26 April 2010.