Gas-powered lawn mowers can be found on almost every street in America. Sadly, these small engines emit a surprisingly large amount of pollution, including carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas that is toxic to humans, as well as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. In fact, operating a gasoline-powered lawn mower for one hour produces the same amount of smog-forming pollution as driving an average car almost 200 miles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What’s more, gas lawn mowers are noisy—just ask anyone who wanted to sleep in on a Saturday morning when a neighbor decided to get an early start on yard work. Luckily for your lungs, your lawn and your neighbors, there are alternatives.
One option is an electric lawnmower. They are quiet, emit no direct pollutants and come in both corded and battery-operated models. Costs for a corded electric mower are similar to those of a comparable gas-powered mower, ranging from $150 to more than $400. Their biggest drawback: they must be connected to the house via an extension cord. As you can imagine, users must be aware of where the cord is at all times in order to avoid running over it with the mower.
Cordless rechargeable mowers are more convenient than their corded counterparts. Some cordless mowers have a removable battery that can be charged inside the home and placed in the mower when it is time to cut grass. Costs range from $200 to more than $500.
Rechargeable mowers are limited by the life of the battery pack. As a result, they are not the best choice for large lawns. When shopping for a cordless mower, look for information on the size of lawn the mower can handle or the time provided by a single charge. Many cordless mowers claim to give users 45 to 60 minutes of cutting time per charge, or roughly enough time to cut one-third to one-half of an acre. Actual cutting time will vary depending on the age of the battery and the height of the grass.
Another option is to use a manual push mower. Modern reel mowers start at $70. They are surprisingly light and maneuverable compared to the older models you might remember, though it’s still hard to push any human-powered mower through tall grass. They are a good choice for smaller yards and work best when the cutting blades are regularly sharpened and the wheels frequently lubricated.
Brian Sloboda is a program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network, a service of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.