Amid air pollution concerns, consumers consider electric lawn care

• By Elizabeth Deornellas/LNP | LancasterOnline

It’s no wonder the buzz of gas-powered lawn mowers and blowers so easily overwhelms the buzz of the spring’s bees – data from an environmental watchdog shows Lancaster County’s gas-powered lawn equipment is pumping out the same level of soot as the annual emissions of 445,664 cars.

Although local retailers report that gas-powered lawn equipment remains the majority of sales, demand for electric-powered options is growing, with one seller reporting a four-fold increase.

Environmental advocates sought to spur the switch from gas-powered machines with the publication of “Lawn Care Goes Electric,” a report from the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, which ranks Lancaster County sixth in the state for the emission of particle pollution, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide attributed to lawn equipment.

Considering the total impact of harmful emissions from lawn equipment, Lancaster County ranks behind Montgomery, Allegheny, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties. Lancaster County ranks right above Philadelphia County in the PennEnvironment report.

PennEnvironment – founded in 2002 – is the state chapter of national environmental advocacy group Environment America, and the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center – founded in 2003 – is the chapter’s research and education arm.

Particulate matter consists of aerosols like soot, dust, pollen, or smoke. Particles 10 micrometers or smaller can enter the nose or lungs, while particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller can enter the bloodstream. Exposure to such particles can worsen asthma, decrease lung function and strain the heart.

Particle pollution levels earned Lancaster County the 30th worst ranking out of 223 monitored metropolitan areas nationwide included in the recently released American Lung Association’s annual air quality report. Lancaster County recorded 6.7 days per year of unhealthy air based on soot levels during the report’s 2020-22 data.

Nitrogen oxides, produced in fuel combustion, are the gases that produce the yellow-ish brown color of smog. They form when fuel is burned at high temperatures and cause harm to respiratory systems.

The PennEnvironment report estimates that the nitrogen oxide emissions from lawn equipment in Lancaster County are the equivalent of the annual emissions of 55,108 cars.

Carbon dioxide is the leading contributor to global warming. The PennEnvironment report puts the carbon dioxide output of Lancaster County lawn equipment at the same level as the annual emissions of 10,631 cars.

The PennEnvironment analysis relies on data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Emissions Inventory from 2020. The “lawn equipment” category includes mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, snow blowers and chainsaws.

The car emissions comparison data comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Federal Highway Administration. The metric for the average miles traveled a year came from 2021, as 2020 data showed a pandemic dip.

The PennEnvironment report concludes that local and state governments should lead by example in using electric-powered lawn care and supporting policies that offer customers discounts and require the phasing out of the most polluting equipment.

Demand for electric lawn care

Discounts and promotions do work, according to local retailers. Bomberger’s Store, a hardware retailer with locations in Warwick Township and Annville Township in Lebanon County, reported that a free battery promo contributed to a spike in sales for one of their electric models.

Overall, sales of electric lawn equipment have risen from about 10% of Bomberger’s total in 2019 to 40% today.

“We have seen double-digit market share increase, probably since 2020, year over year,” said Will Rothenberger, Bomberger’s president.

Customers appreciate electric equipment for its ease of use and low maintenance, said Esther Hess, who oversees power tools sales for Bomberger’s. She said that many customers no longer want to deal with ethanol and that some find gas-powered mowers difficult to start.

 

 

Residential customers with smaller properties are particularly interested in electric equipment, while those with larger properties and commercial buyers are generally sticking to gas-powered options, Hess said.

RS Hollinger’s Mountville Borough location reported the same trend regarding commercial customers.

“They’re not looking for that yet,” RS Hollinger salesperson Justin Weaver said.

SteveCo Power in Leacock Township also reported that gas-powered equipment still makes up the majority of sales.

However, there is strong interest in electric walk-behind mowers, SteveCo Power CEO Lee Esh said.

“It’s low-maintenance, and it’s quiet, Esh said.

Consumers who want to go electric should consider that sticking with one brand for all their purchases can increase their options. For example, a mower and chainsaw from the same brand will have interchangeable batteries, while those of different brands will not be compatible.

Careful storage can also increase battery performance. Customers should avoid placing their batteries and chargers in an overly cold or hot place, Hess said, and storing the battery outside the charger is best.

One downside to the growth in electric-powered lawn equipment is a lack of disposal options, Rothenberger and Hess reported.

“Environmentally speaking, the commercial side of the battery market needs to come up with a better way of handling used batteries,” Rothenberger said.