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A significant way of reducing global-warming pollution in your backyard is to avoid using gas-powered motorized yard tools such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers. More fuel is spilled each year filling up garden equipment than was lost in the entire Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Meanwhile, mowing an average 1 1/4-acre lawn produces more air pollution than driving a 1995 pickup truck from Washington D.C. to New York and back again.
Small engines also emit an inordinate amount of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and nitrogen oxides, all of which contribute health-damaging smog. Instead of adding to the air and noise pollution in your neighborhood, wield lower-emissions electric tools-or, better yet, zero-pollution manual tools, such as reel push mowers, hand trimmers, and rakes.
If you're fretting about the hassle, consider planting low-maintenance turf grasses that grow slowly and require mowing only a few times of year, as well as native wildflowers and plants that require little-to-no maintenance after planting. Tip: Check with your local agricultural service or lawn-and-garden center to find out what species are appropriate to your region.
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
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