We all love the rain bringing green grass and pray it continues through the summer, especially those that are landscapers! Of course landscapers also hope there are no Ozone Action Days! You know…those days when your operations may have restrictions because the air quality is expected to reach unhealthy levels, but really, what’s the big deal?
Well, the big deal is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has defined certain areas of Texas as having unhealthy air quality, causing these regions to make changes to support cleaner air. In Texas alone 42 counties are designated as non-compliant or near non-compliant with the EPA standard for healthy air. Go to this link to see if you are in one of those counties:
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/implementation/air/terp/TerpMap_Hwys.pdf
Commercial lawnmowers are a part of this problem because one gasoline mower emits the same amount of unhealthy emissions as 32 vehicles on the road. Emissions from lawn equipment and mowers impacts air quality and can affect the health of those who work outdoors, as well as, children, the elderly, and others who have pre-existing lung conditions. During ozone season your operations may be impacted by policies that limit when gasoline and diesel powered lawnmowers can operate on Ozone Actions Days. Other than delaying or re-scheduling your landscaping operations to limit the impact from lawn equipment and mower emissions, is there another option? Yes, it is called propane, also known as, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and propane autogas.
Propane is a clean-burning, domestically produced, alternative fuel and is obtained through natural gas processing and petroleum refining. About 90% of the United States propane supply is produced domestically and 75% is refined in the state of Texas alone. By reducing our dependency on foreign oil by 10% we retain -$50 billion dollars from export and support the Texas economy! Propane mowers hold one or two propane tanks – up to 15 gallons of fuel capacity in each tank and propane mower fueling is easy because propane tanks are easy to switch, minimizing equipment downtime. Cylinder exchange programs, as well as, on-site refueling options are readily available. With more than 700 propane stations across Texas, it’s easy and affordable to refuel mowers with any of your neighborhood retailers. Propane’s sealed tank and refueling system means no spilled fuel — and fewer lost dollars. There are no storage issues with propane because — unlike gasoline — it does not go bad during the winter months. Here are a few more facts supporting the use of propane mowers:
– EPA estimates that 17 million gallons of fuel are spilled each year while refueling gasoline powered lawn equipment. That’s more petroleum than spilled by the Exxon Valdez in the Gulf of Alaska. With propane’s closed loop refueling, you do not have to worry about spillage.
– With propane the chance of spilling fuel during fill up, leaks in the tank or fuel line, and the shrinkage caused by theft or bad gas, is eliminated. Case in point, The Austin Independent School District realized almost 20% recovery of fuel after switching their fleet of mowers to propane. Loss was due to pilferage, spillage, and contaminated gas.
– By using propane, landscapers can save 30-50 percent on fuel costs compared to gasoline or diesel. That’s a lot of savings!
– According to the Propane Education Research Council, using propane in commercial mowers will result in nearly 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and 80 percent reduction in carbon monoxide emissions.
– Propane does not contaminate groundwater or soil.
– Because propane is cleaner burning, engines run cleaner, and there is less maintenance. There is virtually no carbon buildup on valves or combustion chambers, and there is decreased carburetor maintenance extending engine life.
– Statewide and national incentives for mowers are available to help with your switch to propane. For more information, visitwww.fuelingtexas.com
If it’s good for mowers, it’s good for your fleet. Propane autogas is also an excellent choice for your fleet trucks pulling trailers of lawn equipment and mowers. Prime considerations when investigating the use of propane autogas for your truck and van fleet include:
– Are all your fleet vehicles stored together at night? Propane autogas is an excellent choice of fuel when all trucks nest at the same location each night and travel distances are mostly local.
– Are there fueling facilities close to my operations? Fueling is available at over 700 locations across Texas and easy. The Alternative Fuels Data Center has an app for that at www.afdc.energy.gov
– Is there a vehicle that could fit into my business operations? Ford offers a dedicated selection of propane powered vehicles that can be ordered factory direct. GM offers bi-fuel and dedicated propane systems that can also be ordered factory direct.
The advantages for propane autogas in your fleet are many. Consider them today! For more information on Clean Cities and how to become a stakeholder, contact Stacy Neef at www.lonestarcfa.org