YOUR GAS POWERED LAWNMOWER CAN BE A REAL ENVIRONMENTAL PIG. AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR A LOT OF POWERED LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT. THAT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THAT MEANS EVEN LITTLE USE CAN MEAN BIG POLLUTION. ERIN SHRYOCK SHOWS YOU WHY IN TONIGHT'S TEXOMA GREEN REPORT.
According to the government, gas mowers produce five-percent of all air pollution in the country. In fact one hour of mowing produces as much pollution as driving your car 350 miles. It's not surprising that more people are turning back the clock and using push mowers.
John Gutowski, a Home Depot employee, says "There's no engine so the emissions is obsolete, there's no emissions in the atmosphere."
Sales of non-gas powered mowers are up from last year. The environment is just one reason. Some people like to get exercise while doing the yard. Of course these aren't your old pushmowers. The technology has improved some. A few are even self-propelled.
"The best one is called a realmower...It's the one that's self-propelled," said Gutowski.
He also says, "We have another one that's electric, that's basically made for smaller yards, in town, in the city."
There are even battery powered mowers. One word of caution: They're usually recommended for people with very small lawns. Of course the news about gas engines isn't all bad. Some fuel additives are being produced that reduce emmissions as well. A mineral-based 2-cycle engine oil is a good example.
"That's to mix with the gas, in your yard blowers, chipper - shredders, you know, the leaf blower types," says Gutowski.
Most new lawnmowers meet California emmission standards. They're among the most stringent in the country.
NEW LAWNMOWER TECHNOLOGY ISN'T GOING TO COST YOU AN ARM AND A LEG. IN MOST CASES A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS WILL BE ALL IT COSTS. I'M ERIN SHRYOCK AND THAT'S TEXOMA GREEN BACK TO YOU.