New Canaan Curbs Gas Leaf-Blowers

As New Canaan residents enjoyed our sunny backyards this Memorial Day afternoon, the town seemed to be breathing a collective sigh of thanks to our Town Council, for passing by overwhelming majority an important quality-of-life ordinance: a restriction on commercial gas-powered leaf blowers during the height of summer, from June 1 through Labor Day, when fallen leaves are minimal. Commercial electric-powered leaf blowers can still be used all summer.

The ordinance enables homeowners to continue using gas-powered blowers on patios, pool areas, tennis courts and driveways, and lets the town continue using gas-powered blowers for storm clean-up, emergencies, and other necessary work, while overall creating quieter backyards, cleaner air, and healthier working conditions during the months when people most want to enjoy being outside.

To understand why the switch to electric leaf blowers will be such an improvement, it’s important to know about the type of sound and pollution gas-powered leaf blowers produce, compared to electric.

Electric leaf blowers produce a high-frequency sound that is easily blocked by building assemblies and dissipates rapidly through the air. Gas-powered leaf blowers, on the other hand, emit a pervasive rumble at a lower frequency. Sound at longer wavelengths travels far and broadly, and easily penetrates physical barriers like doors and windows.

Gas-powered leaf blowers generate a tremendous amount of exhuast because there are no pollution controls on these engines. Emissions from a half an hour of one leaf blower is about the same as a 3,900-mile drive in a Ford pickup truck, per an Edmunds study.

Gas leaf blowers aerosolize the gas itself, along with the burned fuel exhaust, spewing out literally one-third of what’s in their tanks. These toxic chemicals end up in the air. Everyone, but landscaping crews especially, are exposed to this discharge, which is linked to asthma, heart disease and cancer.

And gas-powered leaf blowers stay on continuously; the noise and exhaust is unending while a crew is working, whereas electric blowers can remain off, because they can be switched on or off without removing a backpack. It will make sense to keep them inactive to preserve battery life.

Many homeowners are happy to allow landscapers to charge batteries using outdoor electrical outlets while they are working. The electricity cost to recharge a battery is minimal. And for many landscapers, transition to electric is already underway. Companies working in nearby towns with similar restrictions have been adapting for years.

We have needlessly continued maintenance regimes that smell up the air and negatively impact outdoor time. There is another option, one our neighboring communities all through Westchester and Fairfield County have chosen. Like so many residents, I am thankful we in New Canaan are joining them in opting for a better quality of daily life.