BioGardener just acquired the newly released propane-powered leaf blower from CA-based Lehr.
We’ve also replaced a couple of string trimmers. The only propane version of these necessary tools for lawn care, also manufactured by Lehr, had some bugs so we’re staying away until the problems are corrected. In the meantime, we’ve purchased the absolute cleanest burning 2-cycle string trimmers money can buy.
In fact, these new Shindaiwa string trimmers, which run on gasoline mixed with engine oil, burn cleaner than our new propane blower!
Below is the tag off the propane blower. EPA rates the engine as a “3″, which is on the low end of the 0-10 scale that categorizes the amount of pollution an off-road engine emits.
Our new Shindaiwa gasoline-powered trimmers? Rated a “2″! So according to the standards set by the EPA, our 2-cycle gas string trimmers, which are generally considered heavy polluters, actually emit less air pollution than the propane blower.
Propane, as the emerging golden boy of the lawn care industry, can’t alone change the impact our industry has on natural resources. Yet another demonstration of how hard it is to truly be green. But we’re tryin’!
The BioGardener blog is a collection of tips, news, updates, muses, and rants on topics related to the best sustainable landscaping and gardening company in Central Texas. BioGardener is a non-traditional, Austin-based company that provides reduced emission lawn care, organic landscape maintenance, and sustainable landscape design and construction services. For more information about the company, visit www.bio-gardener.com
Subscribe in Your Feed Reader.
2 Comments until now
It would be helpful to hear your recommendations for cleanest homeowner equipment, for when we buy new equipment, and cleaner fuels and lubricants for existing equipment, until we do.
I think the cleanest residential equipment is anything that does not have a combustion engine: corded/cordless electric or manual tools. The big box hardware stores offer a good selection of electric equipment.
For larger properties, Hustler just came out with an electric, zero-turn, riding mower that they claim mows up to an acre on a single charge.
For existing gasoline equipment, there is a company in Ohio, http://www.renewablelube.com, that develops and distributes vegetable-based engine oils and lubricants. We’ve used their 2-cycle engine oil for years. For the equipment we use less than 5-10 hours per week (like chainsaws, hedge trimmers, even leaf blowers), it’s great. But for our gasoline string trimmers (which get at least 20 hours of use per week), it clogs exhaust ports and gums up the engine, especially on new equipment. For most homeowners, it should be fine.
McCoy’s Lawn Equipment is the best local equipment provider; they’re pretty savvy about the cleanest burning engines available, but they don’t usually mess with electric.
Add your Comment!