"In 2011, approximately 26.7 million tons of pollutants were emitted by gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment, accounting for 24%−45% of all nonroad gasoline emissions. Gasoline-powered landscape maintenance equipment (leaf blowers/vacuums, and trimmers, edgers, brush cutters) accounted for 43% of VOCs and around 50% of fine PM. Two-stroke engines were responsible for the vast majority of fine PM."

PDF of study:
https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/banks.pdf
--
#AirPollution #EPA #landscaping #LeafBlowers

Please, can we ban gas powered leaf blowers in Philadelphia? https://www.quietcleanphilly.org/

I just don't want to hear them ever again. We don't have to discuss the environmental costs if we can band together simply to eliminate a really annoying noise.

#Philly #noisePollution #leafBlowers

Ack, typo on #leafblowers

It's a nice #techEthics topic because it exhibits one of the quintessential patterns:

(1) A new technology (#leafBlowers) is adopted with the promise to improve something (help make our outdoor spaces pleasant).

(2) Society adapts around the tech (careless landscaping planning becomes viable).

(3) We now depend on the tech (cleaning by blowing).

(4) But we've lost track of our original values (pleasant spaces).

(5) We're worse off than before (the outdoors are unpleasant for humans).

Leaf blowers would be an appropriate subject for a #techEthics case study.

Today's example: My apartment complex just put down new mulch. It's right next to the sidewalk, with no barrier between the mulch and the sidewalk. Predictably, it spills over -- which can be totally fine because now they're out there with #leafBlowers pushing it back in place.

The result is that landscaping (for enhancing quality of life?) yields a Saturday afternoon dominated by the sounds of angry machines.

Holy cow

“‘The hydrocarbon emissions from a half-hour of yard work with the two-stroke leaf blower are about the same as a 3,900-mile drive from Texas to Alaska in a Raptor,’ said Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor at Edmunds.com.”

https://historians.social/@sps/110159639031631171

#LeafBlowers #Pollution #Environment #Emissions

I have a theory that the cicadas are all calling out to one another:

"... and ANOTHER leaf blower going over here!"

"... another mower near my tree!"

"... jeez, these humans are just SO NOISY"

"I wonder how the humans synchronise all their noisemakers? Do you think they use them to communicate? To attract mates?"

#Australia #cicadas #LeafBlowers #ALLtheLeafBlowers

this is a #Leafblower hate account. Fuck #Leafblowers. #LeafBlowerHate

It’s 17F/-8C here and we got some powdery snow over night. Instead of shoveling or using the snow blower, I used the leaf blower. A couple of neighbors looked confused as I used it, but my drive and sidewalk are the cleanest in the neighborhood!
Working smarter not harder today.
#snow #LeafBlowers #snowblower

It’s 17F/-8C here and we got some powdery snow over night. Instead of shoveling or using the snow blower, I used the leaf blower. A couple of neighbors looked confused as I used it, but my drive and sidewalk are the cleanest in the neighborhood!
Working smarter not harder today.
#snow #LeafBlowers #snowblower

at least on twitter, there was an astonishing number of whiny posts about daylight savings time

Anyway, and I am dead serious here, there is a real advantage:
the gardeners with their insanely loud leafblowers have to stop when it gets dark and it gets dark earlier so that is a unalloyed blessing

#leafblowers #noise #noisepollution
#DST #daylightsavingtime

There’s a bloke in a yellow vest on the Torquay jetty using a leaf blower😳.
Seriously, someone call the police.
#LeafBlowers #sailing

@HiMYSYeD

I hate #leafblowers too, but let's not get ridiculous. A typical car driving 3000 miles burns about 100-150 gallons of gasoline, that's where the CO2 is coming from. A leafblower is consuming about 0.5 gallons per hour.

If folks are up for taking down the patriarchy, using federated apps, etc. could you perhaps get a small win and ban #LeafBlowers as a start?

Seems like a nice stepping stone, get a win, and then move on to the rest of the agenda.

Celebrating November by skipping the #LeafBlowers and raking with the toddler, prepping for the #dog to come jump in soon. And yes, the kid has her own rake.

My son's artwork featured in newsletter about getting rid of gas powered leaf blowers:

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Spring-news-from-Quiet-Clean-PDX---A-Volunteer-Opportunity-May-14th-.html?soid=1102298814115&aid=68LoSK7YOQE

#quietclean #leafblowers #climate #localactivism