A Maryland study recommends switching to electric tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the state’s climate goals.
A report from the Maryland PIRG Foundation reveals that gas-powered lawn tools such as leaf blowers emit roughly the same level of “fine particulate” air pollution as 6.4 million gas-powered cars in the state.
As Josh Kurtz explains in Maryland Matters, the report, titled “Lawn Care Goes Electric: Why It’s Time to Switch to a New Generation of Clean, Quiet Electric Lawn Equipment,” estimates emissions on a county-by-county basis and calculates the benefit of removing gas-powered equipment.
“The report recommends that local and state governments use electric equipment on public property and provide financial incentives to encourage the widespread adoption of electric lawn equipment by residents. It further suggests that cities and states consider restrictions on the sale and use of the most-polluting fossil fuel-powered equipment.” One Maryland county, Montgomery County, is already moving to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers and vacuums and will prohibit their sales in the county starting on July 1, 2024, with a full ban taking effect a year later.
FULL STORY: Study: Gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers produce as much pollution as long car trips
Colorado Landfills Emit as Much Pollution as 1M Cars
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Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
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Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
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Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
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