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How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

theatlantic.com

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Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#31

Post by beachy »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #28
peteradio wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two stroke engines that power these things are dirty as fuck. Sucks to be the worker running these things, I'm super sure they are compensated appropriately and provided the necessary protection gear. Let alone anyone outside within 100 feet.

Two stroke engines should be outlawed entirely. There is no reason for them to still be sold with batteries having advanced as much as they have. Hand held tools and scooters can be electric, small outboard motors for marine applications can be four stroke or propane fired.

If you're carrying your tool in to somewhere remote for a day's work, filthy old two stroke is the easiest, most energy dense power source. As opposed to a truck load of batteries.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#32

Post by [deleted] »

beachy wrote: post #31
toomuchtodo wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two stroke engines should be outlawed entirely. There is no reason for them to still be sold with batteries having advanced as much as they have. Hand held tools and scooters can be electric, small outboard motors for marine applications can be four stroke or propane fired.

If you're carrying your tool in to somewhere remote for a day's work, filthy old two stroke is the easiest, most energy dense power source. As opposed to a truck load of batteries.

[deleted]

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#33

Post by axaxs »

Good. I had a neighbor that spent multiple days each fall running them. Windy day? No problem, spend 6 hours making a pile and chasing the ones that blow off. Gutters clogged? Use a ladder and a leafblower to clean their gutters. It was ear piercing even inside my home. I asked they not do that, as it wasn't even efficient, and they shrugged me off. I was left with absolutely no recourse but to wear earplugs for a few days. I wish they'd ban those awful things nationwide.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#34

Post by [deleted] »

beachy wrote: post #31
toomuchtodo wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two stroke engines should be outlawed entirely. There is no reason for them to still be sold with batteries having advanced as much as they have. Hand held tools and scooters can be electric, small outboard motors for marine applications can be four stroke or propane fired.

If you're carrying your tool in to somewhere remote for a day's work, filthy old two stroke is the easiest, most energy dense power source. As opposed to a truck load of batteries.

[deleted]

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#35

Post by HarryHirsch »

beachy wrote: post #31
toomuchtodo wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two stroke engines should be outlawed entirely. There is no reason for them to still be sold with batteries having advanced as much as they have. Hand held tools and scooters can be electric, small outboard motors for marine applications can be four stroke or propane fired.

If you're carrying your tool in to somewhere remote for a day's work, filthy old two stroke is the easiest, most energy dense power source. As opposed to a truck load of batteries.

Wait, what. This is about the yard crew and their hand tools. Everyone has electric at home, and the power cord has been invented.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#36

Post by dbcurtis »

gumby wrote: post #26

Not mentioned is that leaf blowers blow away the topsoil and little bugs that maintain it. The ground becomes hard and no longer water permeable (it’s why the suburban ground in California looks — and acts — like concrete. My gardeners don’t use leaf blowers and people are always asking what chemicals I use to keep my garden looking so lush. I don’t use any of those either; the process is called “nature”.

> it’s why the suburban ground in California looks — and acts — like concrete.

Look, I am as fanatical about soil biome issues as anyone that you are going to find, but your assertion is overly simplistic. If you look at a soil type map for large parts of Sili Valley, you will see big chunks labeled "Adobe". As in clay. As in it doesn't percolate. As in naturally sparse in organic matter. As in gardening contractors in Milpitas own not rent jackhammers, and it has nothing to do with the long term effects of leaf blowers.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#37

Post by toofy »

mc32 wrote: post #2

Instead of outright banning them, why not require a strict maximum dB level rating (in other words as tested by an independent lab). Personally I’m in favor of limiting noise output rather than outright banning. Otherwise it’s tyrannical for a minority to tell the majority what they may and may not do.

By banning 2-cycle leafblowers and encouraging people to switch to electric powered they're knocking out two problems at once--the awful noise and the ridiculous amount of nasty stuff 2-cycle motors spew all over into our environments.

The majority can still have their electric leafblowers.

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#38

Post by bookofjoe »

Leaf blowers were the annoying soundtrack of Westwood near UCLA when I lived there from 1966-1983. By the time I left, they were buzzing everywhere from before dawn to dusk. I cannot even imagine what Westwood sounds like now, 36 years later....

Re: How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.

#39

Post by toomuchtodo »

HarryHirsch wrote: post #35
beachy wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're carrying your tool in to somewhere remote for a day's work, filthy old two stroke is the easiest, most energy dense power source. As opposed to a truck load of batteries.

Wait, what. This is about the yard crew and their hand tools. Everyone has electric at home, and the power cord has been invented.

Yard crews can also carry batteries and chargers for hand tools. I know because I’ve helped setup a trailer charging system, powered by solar, for a local landscaping contractor. The only tool they use that is fossil powered is a propane riding mower (which is clean burning). I am working on building them an electric riding mower with reclaimed Tesla modules from an S.
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