New interactive map, corporate disclosure show progress on lawn care electrification

Cities, states, corporations slashing pollution, noise from gas-powered lawn equipment

CHICAGO – As leaves fall – and leaf blowers roar – in neighborhoods across Illinois, Illinois PIRG Education Fund and Environment Illinois Research & Education Center unveiled a new interactive map Wednesday showing nationwide progress on transitioning away from highly polluting, noisy, gas-powered lawn equipment. The map highlights policies in 26 states plus D.C., ranging from restrictions on leaf blower use and bans on the sale of gas-powered equipment to financial incentives for cleaner, quieter electric equipment. 

Illinois is no stranger to policies for gas-powered leaf blowers. Several villages, including Winnetka, Wilmette and Kenilworth, have seasonal restrictions on using them. In 2021, Evanston passed an ordinance phasing out their use within city limits by April 2023. Oak Park followed suit with a ban that begins in 2025.

“The problem with gas-powered blowers isn’t just that they are noisy,” said Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. “Blowers spew out harmful air pollutants that can cause long-term health problems for those who operate them and their neighbors. As a city, we need to think of the health of our residents and of our planet.”

Cook County has the second-worst amount of particulate matter (soot) emissions in the nation. These actions can help not just our environment, but also our health. 

“We shouldn’t pollute our air and endanger our health just by doing everyday yard work. We have better options,” said Illinois PIRG Education Fund Clean Energy Associate Kaleigh O’Brien. “It’s good to see more and more cities and states across Illinois and the rest of the country take action to improve our health and quality of life by switching away from dirty gas lawn mowers and leaf blowers.”

Illinois PIRG Education Fund and Environment Illinois Research & Education Center recommend that states, municipalities, school districts, utility companies and other public entities use the information embedded in the new map for ideas on how to address the harmful pollution and noise produced by gas-powered lawn equipment. It includes detailed policy suggestions.

In addition to the governmental policy progress, corporations are taking this transition seriously. Lowe’s recently released a corporate responsibility report revealing that it has shifted its product lines substantially in recent years. Now, 60% of the outdoor lawn equipment (excluding riding mowers) that it sells are electric or battery-powered. 

“We appreciate that Lowe’s shared its progress and we are encouraged to see how much of its lawn equipment sales consists of cleaner, quieter electric and battery-powered options,” said Environment Illinois Research & Education Center Outreach & Engagement Manager Emily Kowalski. “Next, we encourage Lowe’s to build on that progress to meet or beat The Home Depot’s goal of having 85% of lawn equipment sales be electric by 2028. ”

Beyond the map, Illinois PIRG Education Fund and Environmental Illinois Research & Education Center are also releasing a new series of educational videos designed to help local lawn care companies switch to electric-powered equipment. In the videos, Jordan Champalou, who owns Colorado-based Electric Lawn Care, demonstrates his cost-effective all-electric setup. Champalou uses solar panels on the roof of his equipment trailer to charge batteries for his lawn mower and handheld landscaping tools while out on a job. 

“It’s time to make our lawn equipment as ‘green’ as our lawns,” concluded O’Brien. “Seeing all this new information and how it’s put into action makes it clear that we’re headed in the right direction.”