Alternative-Energy Yard Equipment—Let’s Kick Some Gas!

Alternative-Energy Yard Equipment—Let’s Kick Some Gas!

(note early start time & call for participation, thanks!)

That’s the rowdy tagline from the American Green Zone Alliance (https://www.agza.net/), a California group working in support of zero-emission landscape maintenance strategies. The group identifies the six worst impacts (https://www.agza.net/problems-overview/) of gas-powered equipment on lawn crews, communities and the planet. Topping their list? Emissions. A two-stroke gasoline powered leaf blower generates as much tailpipe emissions in one hour as an automobile does over 350 miles. The difference is that a car emits all that pollution over a long stretch of road, while a leaf blower deposits it all in one yard.

According to the California Air Resources board, gas-powered lawn equipment is about to pass cars as the worst air polluters, spewing out formaldehyde, benzene and particulate matter. California, the first state to do so, is considering requiring tougher emissions standards (https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/offroad/sore/sore.htm) for small gas engines and offering incentives for landscaping businesses to switch to electric.

We don’t need to wait for rules and “incentives” (a livable planet is pretty nice)! At our June meeting, we’ll consider and try out non-gas options for yard equipment. TEKPark has kindly allowed us access to an un-manicured part of the campus, where we can see demonstrated and try out electric and other non-gas equipment, including the following so far:

• Green Ridge Landscaping, with their Mean Green Zero-Turn electric rider mower, propane version Zero-Turn, battery-powered line trimmer and blower and their EnviroMow solar-powered battery charging trailer.

• Landscape gardening expert, Pam Ruch, who will demonstrate a Black & Decker electric mower using the block mowing technique for long cord management; “This Isn’t Your Grandfather’s” modern and elegant Reel mower; and the shear pleasure of a variety of different designs of hedge shears for the most effective, efficient and healthy haircut your hedge will ever experience.

• EGO 21” self-propelled mower with lithium-ion battery for the ½ acre lawn, rated by Consumer Reports as easily comparable to similar size gas powered mowers, only it doesn’t make as much noise, costs much less to operate and starts every time.

• EGO 20” electric push mower with fast charge lithium-ion battery for the smaller lawn, with similar accolades from Consumer Reports

• Echo 16” cordless electric chain saw with lithium-ion battery

• Pole saw – battery-powered, extendable and folding for flexible pruning

• Lawn edger – easy-start electric with cord

YOUR PARTICIPATION IS REQUESTED (and appreciated) If you have electric or other non-gas yard equipment that you’d like to share, please let us know! Call (215)[masked] or email [masked] . We’re working to get as much variety as possible. Thank you. We’ll start this meeting a little early, meeting outside from about 6:30 to 7:15, before going to the multipurpose room for more discussion and Q&A with equipment owners. Hope you can join us! We look forward to hearing from you about any equipment you’d be able to bring along for others to try out. Many thanks!

The meeting is Tuesday, June 27, at TEKPark (9999 Hamilton Boulevard, Breinigsville, PA 18031, starting outside at 6:30 and moving indoors around 7:15. Meetings are free and open to the public. After the meeting, please plan to stick around and chat with friends old and new. Light snacks will be served. Hope to see you there!

For questions, contact Vera Cole, [masked] .

Need a gift…but don’t want to buy stuff?

If you’d like to make a donation to MAREA or buy someone a membership as a gift, let us know and we’ll handle the acknowledgement thoughtfully, by email or paper mail, with your input. Drop us a note at [masked] . And remember, all new memberships get a free copy of the DVD, “Saving Sunshine (https://www.themarea.org/saving-sunshine.shtml)”!

Free DVD with MAREA membership (https://www.themarea.org/join.shtml) While supplies last, all new and renewing MAREA members will receive a free copy of “Saving Sunshine, Keeping the Lights on with Batteries and Solar Power,” the 30-minute DVD produced by MAREA this year with funding from the Berks Community Foundation and distributed by Bullfrog Films. It’s terrific film, offering an interesting and easily understood explanation of the electricity grid and distribution generation, especially the role of batteries with solar. MAREA is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Donations and memberships are how we keep the lights on. You can join at the meeting or anytime online (https://www.themarea.org/join.shtml). Thanks for your help.