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My prediction within the next 10 years, a majority of jurisdictions will ban 2-stroke leaf blowers. Electric leaf blowers are a thing now. A combination of poll
by function_seven 10y ago
My prediction within the next 10 years, a majority of jurisdictions will ban 2-stroke leaf blowers. Electric leaf blowers are a thing now. A combination of pollution control and noise control, along with a viable alternative, will gather enough support for these bans.
(I’m not sure what portion of leaf blower noise is caused by the fan vs. the engine. I suspect even if the fan creates the larger component, it’s probably less annoying than the buzz of a two stroke engine).
EDIT: At the moment, I think gas powered units are still more powerful. But with battery technology going the way it is, and prices falling, I’d be surprised if a backpack electric unit doesn’t become cheap enough to rival current gas units. And even with some reduced power, users may prefer it to having to mix oil and maintain the units.
- derekp7 10y agoI have a plug-in electric leaf blower, and it is very loud. Enough that I'm self conscious about using it, unless there is other noise around to drown it out.
- antisthenes 10y agoAll power tools are noisy, but the gasoline operated tools designed for mowing lawns and blowing leaves are an affront to humanity and nature, not only because of noise and smell, but because they are designed to do an incomprehensibly counterproductive task for the sake of owners misguided sense of ego and 'curb appeal'. Cue the torrent of entitled comments explaining to me that they like their freshly cut lawns (not by them of course, but by minimum wage landscapers) and consider it their fundamental human right.
- serge2k 10y agoHey, I hate lawns too but if you must have one then it should probably be kept at a reasonable length. Of course watering it every day then cutting it in the summer (rather then just let it turn a bit brown and stop growing) is idiocy.
- maxerickson 10y agoWhat's wrong with a rake? And maybe also a tarp if there is some distance to move the leaves.
- function_seven 10y agoIt takes more time than a leaf blower. Especially around shrubs and hardscape. There’s a reason professional gardeners use leaf blowers after all, even though they’re way more expensive than a rake and require more maintenance.