A Column Promoting a More Earth-Friendly Lifestyle

By John L. Turner

With the warm weather upon us homeowners are revving up lawn mowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers and the like. If you find yourself in need of purchasing new equipment, now’s the time to go electric! Many types and models are available covering these tool choices (not to mention snow blowers) and more are coming on the market as we move away from a carbon-based economy. 

Electric yard tools have numerous advantages over gas powered tools. They require less maintenance, are quieter, and produce no pollution. As for this last benefit, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA for short) running a commercial gas powered lawn mower for one hour produces the same amount of pollution as driving a new gas powered car 300 miles and, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, lawn mowers collectively create five percent of the total air pollution generated annually in the United States while burning about 800 million gallons of gas. 

Another major benefit of going with electric yard tools at your next purchase?  The State of New York is offering financial rebates! A homeowner  can receive a 50% rebate up to $125 when the old gas mower is turned in or a 50% rebate of up to $75 for new mower owners.   

So whether it’s for cleaner community air, a quieter neighbrohood, and more green in your wallet, electric yard equipment makes sense.

A resident of Setauket, author John L. Turner is conservation chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, author of “Exploring the Other Island: A Seasonal Nature Guide to Long Island” and president of Alula Birding & Natural History Tours.