Electrify Your Landscaping

Jul 30, 2024

Luscher Farm

Electrify Your Landscaping / Healthy Yard Care

It’s Clean, It’s Quiet, It’s Healthy

Overview

Gas-powered landscaping equipment causes significant air and noise pollution and negatively affects workers, neighborhoods, habitat and health of the soil.

LOSN has launched a campaign to support healthy yard care practices and the transition away from gas-powered landscaping equipment.

Landscapers With Electric Options

Mention “LOSN” when you book
with these landscapers
and get $25 off your first visit!

The Problem with Gas-Powered
Landscaping Equipment

  • EXTREME NOISE
    Low-frequency and high-decibel, the noise of a gas-powered blower is significantly louder than electric. It permeates walls and negatively impacts up to 90 surrounding homes. The noise contributes to hearing loss, high blood pressure and stress.
  • HEALTH RISKS
    Two-stroke engines burn a mixture of gasoline and oil. They produce exhaust fumes laden with high levels of benzene, butadiene, formaldehyde, and fine particulates which are known carcinogens that are associated with respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological harm.
  • ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
    Toxic waste and smog-forming emissions from these engines harm ecosystems and contribute to the climate crisis. Gas leaf blowers create up to 200-mph wind force which sends dust that can contain pollen, mold, animal feces, heavy metals and chemicals from herbicides and pesticides into the air.
Carbon emissions using gas-powered equipment

Healthy Yard Care

  • CARE FOR THE PLANTS AND THE SOIL
    Avoid the use of all leaf blowers around plantings. They erode and compact the soil and damage habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators.
  • AVOID HERBICIDES AND PESTICIDES
    Most yards do not need these dangerous chemicals, which are harmful to children, pets, wildlife, insects and waterways.
  • LEAVE THE LEAVES
    Leaves and other plant matter under trees and shrubs help build mulch, healthy soil and habitat for pollinators and wildlife. LEARN MORE...

Click the image below to open a pdf copy of the mailer sent to 14,000 homes in Lake Oswego in August, 2024.

CLICK to link to a .pdf of this 2-page flier.

Lake Oswego Sustainability Network Newsletter

April 2024

Click the image below to read your copy in a new browser window.

What You Can Do

  • Buy electric tools. They’re affordable, clean and effective.
  • Share your electric tools with your landscaper. Offer to provide them with a fresh battery on your day of service.
  • Ask them to use brooms and rakes and to practice healthy yard care.
  • Hire a landscaper who offers alternatives to gas-powered maintenance. WE HAVE A LIST!

How You Can Help

Your participation is important to the success of our campaign. Here are ways you can help us expedite the transition away from gas-powered landscaping equipment and toward more healthy and sustainable practices:

  • Join the Electrify Your Landscaping and Healthy Yard Care Committee.
  • Write a letter to the Editor.
  • Donate directly to our campaign by selecting Electrify Your Landscaping project.

Contact

Kathleen Wiens  kwiens@losn.org

Resources

Video

Websites and Documents

In the News …

Success Stories

What the City of Lake Oswego Is Doing

What the City of Lake Oswego Is Doing

Apr 19, 2024 |

Submitted by Jeff Munro, Deputy Director

The City of Lake Oswego has already taken important steps to eliminate gas-powered equipment from its contracted landscape services for 200 city-owned sites and has replaced much of the gas-powered equipment used by Parks and Public Works.

read more
Why We Made the Switch

Why We Made the Switch

Apr 18, 2021 | ,

Testimonial from Jeff & Kathleen Wiens

For years it was frustrating trying to start our gas lawnmower and edger. Having to mix oil and gasoline, trying to find a funnel to fill it was always a hassle. The cloud of smoke and fumes made the process even more unpleasant. It was frustrating having to wipe the spilled gasoline off of our hands and ground.

read more