Your Yard
Our homes account for over 20% of ALL carbon dioxide emissions in Whatcom County. This means that the decisions you make around your home can have a big impact on climate change. Whether you rent or own, there are tons of ways to make a difference. So tune in to how your house is operating and remember: conserving energy not only means you'll pollute less, but paying your energy bill won't be such a drag.
Older gas mowers produce 2-3 times more pollution each year than the average automobile! Ditch the loud, gas guzzling, oil burning mower and use some of the cleanest, greenest most renewable energy out there: You!
How do I do this?
Push mowers have come a long way and are surprisingly effective and simple to use. They are geared to use momentum, which makes them very easy to push. They cut grass just as well as any rotating blade. Think about landscaping your yard with some native vegetation to cut down the amount of grass you have to mow, which will save you time and energy. If you can’t use a push mower, electric mowers emit less than half the carbon dioxide per hour of operation of their gasoline counterparts. Check out additional mowing tips.
Why should I do this?
Most gas mowers operate less efficiently than automobiles and don’t have the kinds of pollution control devices required on cars. If you’re an avid lawn mower, chances are your mower is contributing more to global warming than your car. Some studies have shown that older gas powered mowers pollute as much every year as driving a typical car over 86,000 miles(1)! According to one U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study, the average gasoline mower in one hour emits the same volume of hydrocarbons as a 1992 Ford Explorer driven more than 20,000 miles(2). Regardless, Americans use around 800 million gallons of gas per year to mow their lawns(3).
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Plant some native trees or vegetation and absorb carbon dioxide for years to come. Or xeriscape your yard and cut water use and maintenance in half.
How do I do this?
Plant native trees, bushes or a garden in your yard or xeriscape it to save water, time and energy. It is important to use plants that are native to our area. They generally require little if any watering and are less likely to take over other plant species nearby.
Why should I do this?
Having a manicured grass lawn is generally an impractical and inefficient use of resources. Grass lawns require much more water, time and energy than a yard landscaped with native trees and plants. Between watering, trimming, mowing and seeding a lawn, you can end up with large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions and water pollution. Native vegetation is adapted to the local climate and requires little or no maintenance. It can grow without fertilizer and usually gets plenty of water from the environment, especially when coupled with a proper drainage system.
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