Congratulations for driving less. Now about your lawn...

One of the big incentives to reduce driving is to reduce vehicle emissions, which contribute to air pollution and global warming. When the precursor to Arlington County Commuter Services was formed more than ten years ago, air pollution caused by vehicles was one of the major concerns. (I don't think we had heard of global warming then.)

So, many of us have been beating the drum for years and years, trying get people to change their transportation habits. Recently, and rather suddenly, the idea that there are practical alternatives to driving is being taken seriously by a lot more people. Not only are people taking the idea seriously, they are actually changing their behavior. Miles driven are down. Traffic fatalities are down. Transit ridership and bicycling are up.

So maybe there's a slight loosening of the grip of mass culture. Maybe there's a window of opportunity to talk about change in other aspects of our lives. Like lawn care.

The Washington Post reports that the EPA has introduced new emissions rules for gas-powered lawn equipment. They say the new rules will save 190 million gallons of gas and 300 lives each year. The head of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, as quoted in the Dallas Morning News, says the resulting reduction in emissions will be the equivalent of removing one out of every five cars and trucks on the road. That's right, small gas engines are major polluters.

Under the new rules, prices for gas-powered equipment will probably go up. The Post article referenced above estimates a cost increase of 18 percent. I have trouble seeing this as a major problem -- how much do you spend a year on lawn equipment? Well, it will be 18 percent more than that. But as always, there are those who will say the increase is a disaster.

And maybe that's good, because what I want to suggest is that there are a lot of people with lawns who don't need gas-powered equipment at all. You can do the lawn-care equivalent of riding a bike. Get a reel mower that you power yourself. If you want to pick up the clippings, or pick up fall leaves, gather them up with a rake. If you want to clean the sidewalk or driveway, use a broom. As with alternatives to driving, these alternatives might involve a little more exercise. But, people are finally starting to see that as a benefit, not a drawback. And while you're getting a little exercise, you'll be able to hear yourself think, and you won't be breathing exhaust.

I know, it's not for everybody. You've got acres of lawn that you have to keep mowed to avoid a prairie fire. Fine. But I live in the city, in a rowhouse community, and many people here mow their postage-stamp lawns with gas-powered mowers, trim them with gas-powered trimmers, and then blow the clippings off the sidewalk with a gas-powered leaf blower. It makes no sense, unless someone's paying them to produce as much noise and pollution as possible.

I'm sure that many people who have changed their driving habits don't care at all about pollution, but are motivated by the high cost of gas. Still, the benefit of reduced pollution is there, along with health benefits, safety benefits, and more. Likewise, my problem with gas-powered lawn equipment is not just concern for the environment. I've already let slip my real problem: the noise is driving me crazy. But the environmental benefits are substantial, and the increased cost of gas-powered equipment, along with the cost of gas, will provide financial incentives. Maybe a confluence of reasons will cause a critical mass of people to reconsider small gas engines, as has happened with big gas engines. Whatever motivates my neighbors to cut out all that racket is fine with me.

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Joe Chapline is web manager for Arlington County Commuter Services

Comments

[David]

Gas powered mowers are so noisy. I've always used a manual mower. And let's not even mention leaf blowers, which should simply be banned.

[Melissa]

The amount of time, money, and energy people spend to keep up a field of useless short green plants is astounding to me. Plant a vegetable or an herb garden in that space -- heck, even a flower garden, though it's a little lower on the usefulness scale (though prettier). But the pesticides, mowing time, reseeding... I just don't get it.

[Justyna]

Gosh, I'm with you on the noise. Every blessed Friday at a quarter to seven, my neighbor's lawn service makes it's presence known. And we're talking a 35x150' lot. Nothing a reel mower couldn't handle.
He may look down his nose at me, but I've replaced my lawn with prairie plants, and gotten rid of the need to mow altogether.
Great article.