The EPA estimates that 10% of the nation's air pollution is caused by lawn equipment such as chain saws, lawn mowers, golf carts, blowers and weed whippers. 5% can be contributed to lawn mowers alone. More fuel is spilled each year by Americans topping off their lawn equipment than was spilled by the Exxon-Valdez. A gas mower pollutes as much in one hour as driving a car 100 miles. There's no shortage of statistics to describe how horrendously polluting these machines are, but it is difficult to know which statistics to trust, simply because each mower is different based on the year it was made and how well it has been maintained. In 1996, the EPA won the fight to implement regulations on exhaust emission standards for mowers, golf carts, and chain saws, but that doesn't change the fact that it's up to the owner to provide regular maintenance to keep their machines running clean(er). The regulations also don't seem to be very strict.

The ulitmate solution would be to integrate native plants that don't require mowing, but since a major landscaping overhaul would not be an option for most people, there are some other really great alternatives that are healthy for you and the planet:

A manual push mower uses only human energy. It's great exercise, stylish, and silent. You can rock out to your headphones or listen to NPR while cutting your grass, providing you have only grass and no weeds. So many people swear by them, but I couldn't get through my yard with one, since around here, "if it's green, it's grass." It's definitely worth a try since you can always return it. For me, it cut through the grass like butter, but left the weeds standing tall. Maybe if I had one of these pedal mowers, things would have been different.

A corded electric mower has all the power of a gas mower with none of the fumes. This is the one we chose after returning the manual one. To start it up, simply push the lever. Easy! We use a 100' cord to reach every corner of the yard with no problems of running it over if you follow the suggested strategy of mowing away from the cord, like vacuuming. In fact, it's very much like vacuuming the yard! 75% quieter than a dirty gas engine too.

A rechargeable electric mower is a good clean-air option if you want to go electric but don't want the inconvenience of a cord. Some manufacturers claim you can mow a 1/2 acre on a charge, but consumer reviews say it's more like 1/4 acre. However, they're a step back on the eco-scale from their corded counterparts because they stay plugged in when not in use and they contain a lead-acid battery which eventually needs to be recycled and replaced.

Free Power Systems in Colorado makes solar charged lawn and garden equipment including a walk-behind tractor, a tiller, and a mower.

With all of these excellent alternatives, why does gas powered equipment still rule the market? We had a selection of one electric mower when we made our purchase. One has to wonder. Are they not in high demand? Is it an industry tactic to keep the shelves stocked with the polluting mowers? Does the public believe that the alternatives don't work as well? Mowing with gas seems such a huge price to pay not only with your health, but also at the expense of our environment. I can say one thing for sure: Yard work is so much more enjoyable when you're not doing it in a cloud of exhaust.