You can reduce the air pollution generated from small,
gas-powered engines commonly found in yard and recreational
equipment.
Use lawn equipment wisely
Use gasoline-powered lawn equipment after noon.
The engines in gas-powered lawn equipment pollute more than car
engines. One hour of lawn mowing with a gas-powered lawn mower
produces as much pollution as driving your car for four hours. The
earlier in the day you mow, the more time the gases (emitted from
your lawn-mower engine) have to combine with sunlight and form ozone. Mowing
later in the day exposes those emissions to fewer hours of
heat.
Switch to lawn equipment that uses an alternative
fuel—or no fuel at all. Lawn mowers and other lawn
equipment that use natural gas are becoming more easily available.
They create far less pollution than conventional lawn mowers. An
electric lawn mower can be a good choice if your electricity comes
from a power plant that uses natural gas, or from a renewable
source such as hydropower. If not, then at least the pollution is
created at the power plant (which burns fuel to create the
electricity powering your mower) instead of in your yard. An
unpowered push mower operates pollution free, allows you to mow
quietly in the cool of the early morning, and gives you some
exercise all at the same time
Make your landscape a xeriscape. Landscapes using native
plants and grasses reduce the need for mowing and other yard
maintenance. They also save water.
Choose your playtime wisely
Most boats, all-terrain vehicles, and jet skis do not have
engines with pollution-control devices like those found in car
engines. These smaller engines pollute far more than car engines
for every hour they are in use. If you boat, ski, or drive these
types of recreational equipment, wait until after noon to use them.
That way the emissions will have less time to combine and form into
ozone.
