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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Zero Emissions Lawn Equipment, Here I Come!


Now that I'm hip to the green movement it really pains me to use my nasty, gas powered weed trimmer because I'm fully aware of the damage I'm doing to the environment. Not to mention, sometimes I have such trouble just getting it started (curse those string cranks!) that I just put the thing away and storm in the house to pout, never having cut a single weed. Well, those days are over (hopefully)!


Environmental rant: Did you know that, until recently, emissions from this type of equipment were completely unregulated? Because of that, using one of these gas-powered pieces of equipment actually produces way more pollution than you would on a cross-country drive to your favorite grandma's house in your full-sized bad-gas-mileage-getting automobile.

The nice folks over at Troy-built sent me this fancy new zero emissions battery operated trimmer to try. I plan to try it side-by-side against my old gas-powered Homelite trimmer then tell you all the gory details here.

Side note: we just had another snow storm a few days ago so while I'm anxious to try this new equipment, I'm starting to wonder if Mother Nature is planning to just skip Spring and Summer all together this year.

Are you a zero-emissions lawn equipment convert? Or have you tried them and hate them? I'd love to hear about your experience.

9 comments:

  1. How about those old-timey push mowers? Now, that's zero emissions! (Except for the emission of curse words, sweat, grunts, etc...)

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  2. I'm interested to hear how well this works. I have such a hard time with our gas-powered trimmer that I leave it up to my husband to do it. Of course, it very rarely gets done. *sigh*

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  3. We are switching to a push mower at MyChicagoGarden. Of course I have a small yard though. As soon as the snow melts we're headed to one of the big box stores to buy it.

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  4. I am getting pretty much to zero emissions lawn maintenance- I have a rechargeble trimmer that I love- and an electric lawn mower. I also have an electric rototiller that I got from my mom- works great for raised beds! I am hoping to one day invent my own electric riding lawnmower

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  5. I'm curious to see how this works as well. I'm tempted to get an electric mower...wonder if my almost 12 year old could manage it too. Until then I'll keep paying my lawn service to do the dirty work for me.

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  6. I'm curious to see how you like it. The Lawn Man does the trimming and mowing around here, but I haven't forgotten how much 'fun' it is starting a gas-powered string trimmer, and I hate the smell of the exhaust from gas-powered yard equipment.

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  7. Hi, I love your blog!
    Don't forget that something that runs on electricity isn't really zero emissions. Not trying to rain on your parade, of course its better than a gas powered one! I have an electric weed whacker and it works just fine. Also have a push lawn mower which actually makes mowing fun! Would highly recommend!

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  8. Also for the person headed to a big box store for your reel mower - check out craigslist first. I got mine for $20, great condition, very sharp. Since its not very complicated there really isn't much to go wrong so a great product to buy secondhand.

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