New Emissions Standards for Lawn and Garden Equipment
- added September 07, 2008
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- TravG73
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Under strict new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules intended to reduce pollution and conserve gasoline, many exhaust-belching lawn mowers and speedboats will be going green over the next few years.
Americans spend more than 3 billion hours tending gardens and more than 500 million hours in recreational boating each year, according to the agency’s estimates.
"With much of the East wheezing under Code Orange alerts, these standards couldn't come too soon," Frank O'Donnell, president of the nonprofit organization Clean Air Watch, told Reuters.
The new EPA rules, which require a 35 percent emissions reduction for gas-powered lawn and garden equipment, will take effect in 2010 for marine engines, including inboard and outboard engines, and in 2011 for lawn and garden equipment with horsepower of 25 or less, such as weed-wackers and lawn mowers. Personal watercraft engines will be required to reduce smog-forming emissions by 70 percent and reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 20 percent.
According to EPA estimates, the new standards will result in annual emission reductions of 600,000 tons of hydrocarbons, 130,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 1.5 million tons of carbon monoxide, in addition to the 190 million gallons of gasoline that consumers will save each year.
"When fully implemented, this rule will be the air pollution equivalent of removing one out of every five cars and trucks on the road," Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, told Reuters.
The EPA believes that along with reducing air pollution, the new rules will help prevent 300 premature deaths and 1700 hospitalizations.
Americans spend more than 3 billion hours tending gardens and more than 500 million hours in recreational boating each year, according to the agency’s estimates.
"With much of the East wheezing under Code Orange alerts, these standards couldn't come too soon," Frank O'Donnell, president of the nonprofit organization Clean Air Watch, told Reuters.
The new EPA rules, which require a 35 percent emissions reduction for gas-powered lawn and garden equipment, will take effect in 2010 for marine engines, including inboard and outboard engines, and in 2011 for lawn and garden equipment with horsepower of 25 or less, such as weed-wackers and lawn mowers. Personal watercraft engines will be required to reduce smog-forming emissions by 70 percent and reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 20 percent.
According to EPA estimates, the new standards will result in annual emission reductions of 600,000 tons of hydrocarbons, 130,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 1.5 million tons of carbon monoxide, in addition to the 190 million gallons of gasoline that consumers will save each year.
"When fully implemented, this rule will be the air pollution equivalent of removing one out of every five cars and trucks on the road," Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, told Reuters.
The EPA believes that along with reducing air pollution, the new rules will help prevent 300 premature deaths and 1700 hospitalizations.
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Whilst they are at it, I would love to see those leaf blowers be gone, that would save a lot of gas, be healthier for the planet and the people who use them (they must feel quite wretched after a days work, let alone doing it all week), and so much better for the permaculture aspect of people's yards/gardens....
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