New Propane Lawnmower Study

Propane has several unique benefits that make it an efficient and environmentally friendly fuel choice for many existing applications. It is clean-burning and doesn’t leave significant deposits on the engine that can cause premature wear. In the event of a fuel spill, propane will not contaminate the soil or groundwater as do other fuels. Propane fuel may also be stored for long periods of time without breakdown or deterioration.

Turfgrass production is a growing industry in the United States, contributing an estimated $62 billion annually to the economy, according to the Stanford Institute. In Tennessee alone, the turfgrass industry contributes an estimated $1 billion annually to the state’s economy.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a typical gas-powered lawnmower produces six times more emissions per hour than an automobile. With increasing air pollution regulations, the lawn care industry must prepare to meet consumers’ demand for environmental responsibility.

To study the effectiveness of new propane-fueled mowing equipment, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and the University of Tennessee will launch a two-year study of the benefits of propane-fueled riding mowers. The research will compare the emissions, economics, and performance of both gasoline and propane-fueled mowers.

The new comparison study will monitor the lawnmowers’ emissions, as well as performance, efficiency, and operation costs. Evaluation parameters include mower performance at several cutting heights and speeds. Digital image analysis will record turfgrass quality, color, and percentage of green cover to determine mower performance. In addition, an in-field, side-by- side comparison will be done by a professional lawn and landscape contractor. Each mower will operate between five and eight hours per day for at least five days per week during the study.

Source: propanecouncil.org.