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California moves toward ban on gas lawn mowers and leaf blowers

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Georgina Rudkus, Oct 11, 2021.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think they already are. but probably from south america. we're good like that
     
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  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    In 2019, hydro made up 19% of in-state generation, and 10% of imports. The in-state portion was a 50% boost over the prior year.
    When the hydroelectric powerhouse is upstream from the taps, the water can still be put used for both.
     
  3. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    My own suburban landscaping has been corded electric ever since I became a homeowner decades ago.

    But I hope this gas chainsaw ban would apply to only typical home landscaping level equipment, not heavy logging equipment. Having done some small scale logging on the woodlots of the rural farm while growing up, that is a very different issue, far less amenable to electrification. And California still has some similar regions. Though it also has more pressure to ban logging altogether ...
     
  4. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Most of it likely comes from quarries. Smooth stones can be in sand and clay deposits.
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, can't see it working for large scale. We were just walking the dog past a baseball field this morning, and the mini-combine style mower was making a last run-round. No way corded would work, and battery-powered would be onerous?

    A side-thought: a significant portion of the lawn care work is maybe superfluous? We'll often see pros running mowers, weed-wackers, pruners and edgers, blowers, all gas powered, when everything seems neat-as-a-pin to begin with. Pretty much self-evident: it's for property owners signed up for a "subscription service", and rain-or-shine, regular as clockwork, these guys show up, and go through the motions.

    And where I'm going with that: MAYBE it's the work-ethic (aka the worth-ethic) at play? Having a "job" can be synonymous with counting, being a good person, responsible, all of the above. And maybe a 100 years back that was necessary. But just maybe, with increasing tech and automation, it's become OCD? If everyone just slacked off a bit, drove less, let the yard vegetation go south a bit, washed the car just every six months.

    While watching the mower whip round the baseball field, we also saw a toddler daycare train go by (some walking, some nodding off in the gang-strollers), on a walk. While all the parents of all those kids are out "making a living", slaving for others, the toddlers are being sheperded by yet more folks making their living.

    Geez I'm rambing...

    Side side note: we're watching this YouTube channel called "My Self Reliance", a guy homesteading in Ontario, interesting as heck. He's got a broad knowledge, skills, and sets himself ground-rules, to use hand-tools, minimize his use of gas, minimize his impact on the surrounds. He's not obsessive, does make concessions, the means-to-an-end, but does what he can. For a lot of viewers it's "Vicarious Self Reliance", us included, but yeah worth a watch.
     
    #25 Mendel Leisk, Oct 12, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2021
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i agree. one reason we don't have a landscaper is that they want regular work.

    i can't blame them, but you're right. many times, the yard needs very little to nothing, but is scheduled.

    since we got old (don't tell mrs. b) we gave up spring cleanup/edging/mulching, and fall raking.

    spring is nice and quiet, but fall is a riding blower and 6 men with back pack blowers. i hare it, and they are careless, blowing stones and mulch onto the grass.
     
  7. privilege

    privilege Active Member

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    you're trying to use logic. that's wrong
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and hyperbole. mods, please move us to freds
     
  9. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    We are already in Fred's.
     
  10. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    "The law requires all newly sold small-motor equipment primarily used for landscaping to be zero-emission...."

    The news story does not seem to differentiate between 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, and I'm wondering what they mean by......"small" although my finely honed Spidey senses inform me that "small" probably means "too small for emissions equipment" although USUALLY zero emissions MEANS zero emissions...as in 'Lectric.

    I'm not aware that propane powered gear would be "zero emissions" but I do not pretend to understand MOST of the stuff that comes out of Sacramento.

    Interestingly enough, and in keeping with their electrical "uniqueness" non-zero-emission generators are not going to be banned until after 2028 - so one supposes that some of the landscaping companies could use corded appliances with a big honkin' gas generator and "pass the savings" on to their customers - along with all of the emissions and noise.

    ACTUAL mileage, of course, WILL vary.
     
    #30 ETC(SS), Oct 12, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2021
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    this ain't freds, it's a glorified IHOP :p
     
  12. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    ^ buzz Kill!
     
  13. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That reminds me: 2-stroke bikes, in their ubiquitous blue haze, from igniting a gas/oil oleo.
     
  15. Colorado Boo

    Colorado Boo Active Member

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    We have a shopping center next to the interstate (I-25) and I've often seen the Tesla Support Vehicle there. It's a big Ford F-150 truck towing a big gasoline (or diesel) generator!!

    I have to get a picture of it....makes you scratch your head and say, "WWWHHHHAAAAATTTT?????"
     
  16. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Tesla has used generators to expand Superchargers during rush times, like holidays, and i wouldn't be surprised if they also use them for chargers in areas with power down.
     
  17. Krall

    Krall Member

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    What I don’t get is you’re just shifting eco hazards.

    To charge all these batteries you need power plants which are usually not green. CA already has grid issues too, no?

    Then there’s all the great stuff that goes into making batteries, more plastics, lithium, and the huge waste they’ll produce.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Our local tool store flyers are close to 50% devoted to the battery powered tools. I get the sense they don’t last, or there’s a lot of poor choices, hence repeat shopping.
     
  19. Krall

    Krall Member

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    There’s good tools and there’s bad tools.

    I get annoyed with Ryobi, their products are decent but now I have 6 chargers and way too many crappy 2.0 AH batteries I don’t want.
     
  20. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    The overall electric power mix has been continually shifting in the direction of lower carbon. Some places are already very low carbon.

    As for the other pollutants, typical small gasoline engines are far dirtier than any commercial power plant.
     
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