In Sacramento, gasoline-powered lawn tools emit more pollution than cars according to air quality officials. To address this problem, cities like Sacramento and Davis have restrictions on using leaf blowers when air quality is expected to be bad. Now, efforts are being made to replace these tools with greener technology to improve air quality in the area.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District is leading an initiative to transition gas-powered lawn tools to electric alternatives. Air quality expert Oliverio Barragan believes that the change is not difficult and just requires a shift in how work is done. Workshops are being conducted with landscape gardeners to introduce them to cleaner tool technology that runs on batteries.
The program to trade in combustion-powered equipment for electric ones is funded with over $1 million from the air district. Benefits of using electric tools include less noise, zero pollution, and cost savings from not having to purchase gas. However, some workers are concerned about the charging needs of electric tools, which could interrupt their work if the tools run out of power midway through a job.
Despite concerns, supporters of the new technology believe that advancements in electric tools have made them more efficient and practical. Charge times have been reduced, weight has been lowered, and runtime has been extended to address the needs of gardeners. The voucher program launched in April has already retired 80 gas-powered tools, reducing pollution in Sacramento communities.
Currently, only commercial, government, and nonprofit agencies are eligible for funding to switch to electric tools. The air district aims to extend the program to homeowners in the future with funds from California vehicle registration fees
