The grass is green, the flowers are in bloom, and my trees are providing that cool break area from the summer sun as well as resting areas for traveling and domestic birds. So what could be bad about that? In my search towards greenness and sustainability, I found sometimes a little knowledge can get you into trouble, and sometimes it’s so illuminating that when you understand the content, you can make changes which are wide ranging in their effect.
The lawn. Most lawns are made up of grasses particular to certain areas and regions of the country. It has been the homeowners goal to have a thick, dark green outdoor carpet, one in which your kids can run and play to their hearts content. However, there’s a dark secret about these lawns few are willing to share. First, lawn grass is a water hog. It requires large amounts of water to keep thick and green. As we all have learned, water, even though it is unnaturally priced, is a precious resource which requires substantial amounts of energy to process, creating millions of tons of carbon dioxide. Some new homes and businesses are using rain cache systems which capture rainwater and use that for irrigation. Unfortunately, not mine. Rain barrels are now available for purchase, but there are issues with cost and space.
Second, to keep that lawn green requires fertilizer and pesticides. Fertilizer production releases large amounts of greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide into the air, and it’s runoff causes large scale water problems, such as the Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone”. Pesticides contribute to the water pollution issues.
Last, mowing the lawn. Gallon for gallon — or, given the size of lawnmower tanks, quart for quart — the 2006 lawn mower engines contribute 93 times more smog-forming emissions than 2006 cars, according to the California Air Resources Board. However, some help is on the way. New EPA regulations will force manufacturers to reduce these emissions by 35% beginning in 2011. In the meantime, here are some strategies you may consider:
· Reduce the square footage of your lawn area and replace with natural plantings using Xeriscape techniques.
· Try to find affordable organic fertilizers. If not, use time-release fertilizers which have less impact.
· If you are planning a vegetable garden, try to go as organic as possible.
· If your yard is not too big, use a manual reel mower. It’s great exercise. Otherwise, there are now several brands of electric mowers now on the market.
Our yards are our escapes, our secret gardens, the outdoor barbecues, and those special places where many of us have shared fond experiences with friends and families. Of course, I am not giving up my yard…nor should you. However, all of the above recommendations will not only help in working towards our communities and planet’s environmental issues, but also provide for a safer and healthier environment for our families.
Keith Winn is the COO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Keith at kwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .
