In Southern California, the familiar sound of a day outdoors often includes the loud drone of gasoline-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers.
Noise pollution is one of the main reasons cities across America, external are adopting restrictions on gasoline-powered landscaping equipment and encouraging the use of quieter electric alternatives.
Electric lawn and garden equipment can also reduce carbon emissions, harmful vibrations, and landscapers’ exposure to air pollution.
Because electric leaf blowers are quieter, landscapers may be able to work for longer hours in areas where residents require reduced noise.
Today, I am attending a training session hosted by the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), an organization that helps support the transition to electric landscaping equipment.
Surprisingly, the electric backpack leaf blower I am carrying is not much heavier than a standard backpack. Using it to gather balls around a park feels intuitive, although I am naturally clumsier and slower than a professional landscaper.
The electric blower still produces a noticeable buzz, but its higher-pitched sound is considerably quieter than the familiar roar of a gasoline-powered machine.
The growing demand for quieter, cleaner landscaping equipment is also attracting new companies to the lawn and garden market.
Whisper Aero, a U.S. aerospace startup, is one of them. The company’s primary business is developing electric propulsion systems for aircraft.
However, in 2022, after years of research and development, Whisper Aero discovered that its aerospace-grade fans could also work effectively in leaf blowers. The opportunity emerged as the COVID-19 pandemic made many people more aware of the impact of noise pollution.
“Our technology is cleaner, quieter and more efficient than any other air movement technology that currently exists,” said Andrew Terajewicz, director of air management at Whisper Aero. “Leaf blowers are the perfect application for it.”
Whisper Aero says its electric leaf blower battery can operate for up to 50 minutes at full power.
The company is now under pressure to increase production as it expands its technology into the consumer landscaping market.
Online pre-orders for Whisper Aero’s handheld electric leaf blower are open this year. The product is positioned at the higher end of the electric leaf blower market and often costs more than traditional gasoline-powered models.
In return, customers get a powerful landscaping tool that is less likely to disrupt nearby homes, businesses, and public spaces.
“It’s so quiet and yet so powerful that it’s hard for the brain to understand what’s going on,” said Dan Mabe, a former landscaper and the founder of AGZA.
Whisper Aero plans to continue developing its product line, including a backpack leaf blower designed specifically for professional landscapers.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk