Did you know a conventional gas lawnmower emits
far more pollution per hour than a car with a catalytic converter?

If you're interested in lawn care that's easier on the environment, take a look at the wide array of electric lawn equipment that's now available. Electric gardening equipment includes mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, pole pruning saws, small chainsaws, edgers and tillers. Most are available in both corded and cordless rechargeable models, and some rechargeable equipment is offered in sets with charging centers or interchangeable batteries.

There are good reasons to go electric. The small gasoline engines that power gas lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other lawn equipment come with a big environmental price. These engines give off high levels of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, producing up to 5% of the nation's air pollution.

Electric lawn equipment is emission-free and helps reduce noise pollution. Electric equipment offers noise levels that are less than half those of their gas-powered counterparts. If you have trouble pull-starting gasoline equipment, electric equipment offers another plus: it starts with the flip of a switch. It's also economical to operate, requiring little maintenance and only a few dollars a year worth of electricity.

Electric garden tools do have limitations. Electric mowers and string trimmers are less powerful than gas mowers and have a harder time tackling tall or thick grass and weeds. The corded models are limited to the length of a 100-foot electric cord, and it can be tiresome to maneuver the cord, particularly in a yard full of trees.

You can free yourself of the cord with rechargeable cordless tools, but these are limited by their battery life. Most rechargeable mowers only hold enough charge to mow a third to a half acre at a time and other cordless tools usually run less than an hour on a charge. The batteries can take a number of hours to recharge. Still, if you have a small lawn and mow frequently, a cordless mower can be a great option. When choosing a cordless mower, look for ones that recharge quickly and whose batteries last a long time in use.

Electric lawn equipment technology may even one day free you from menial tasks like mowing. There are already robotic electric lawnmowers such as Robomow® from Friendly Robotics that can mow small to medium-sized lawns with minimum input from you. Perimeter wiring keeps the robotic mower within the lawn's borders and guides it around obstacles like trees. Sensors and touch-sensitive bumpers prevent it from running into objects in your yard as it mows using a random overlapping pattern.

If you'd like lawn equipment that's clean, quiet and energy-efficient, think electric.

Using Ele

• Before use, inspect tools for damage.
• Make sure the tool's switch is "off" before you plug it in.
• Make sure the outlet you use has a ground fault circuit interrupter.
• Never use corded electrical equipment outside when it's raining or on wet grass.
• When using a corded lawn mower or trimmer, keep the electrical cord behind you. Place it over your shoulder or hold a loop of cord in your hand.
• Always cut away from the cord.
• If the equipment stops suddenly or you hit a foreign object, unplug the equipment before you check for damage or try to remove obstructions.
• Use a heavy-duty extension cord designed for outdoor use.
• Choose tools and cords that have been rated by an independent group such as Underwriters Laboratories.
• Always wear safety glasses and sturdy shoes.
• Don't remove safety features such as blade guards or the grounding pins in three-prong electric plugs.
• Don't carry tools by the cord.