Low Emission Lawn Care The Master Gardener Connection

Low Emission Lawn Care 2 Low emission lawn care Who we are –City of Wichita –Conrady Western Inc. –KSU Small Business Environmental Assistance Program K-State program Office here at Extension (room 104) Provide environmental assistance to small business – free, confidential, non-regulatory Lawn care project this fall

Low Emission Lawn Care 3 Low emission lawn care? Why - environmental impact –Ozone –Health impacts A conventional lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as 40 late model cars.

Low Emission Lawn Care 4 Program overview Introductions and program overview Defining the air quality problem –what is ozone –what are the health issues –how does this relate to lawn care and our program? Opportunities to address the problem –equipment maintenance –low emission equipment –low maintenance turf options and reduced turf area

Low Emission Lawn Care 5 Program overview Conclusion - Why is this important to master gardeners? –Common questions – expert advise –Personal and community health Door prizes

Low Emission Lawn Care 6 How do we measure air pollution levels? An air quality monitor is an instrument that takes a sample of air and measures the amount of an air pollutant such as ozone or particulate matter in the air. All air monitors in the national network have to meet the same strict quality control standards so that data from all sites across the country is accurate and comparable.

Low Emission Lawn Care 7 Air Pollutants of Local Concern Ground Level Ozone (O 3 ) Particulate Matter PM 2.5 PM 10 Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Low Emission Lawn Care 8 Typical Air Monitoring Site Layout

Low Emission Lawn Care 9 Air Monitoring Network

Low Emission Lawn Care 10 Health Effects of Exposure to Ozone Asthma is the fastest growing childhood disease in the United States

Low Emission Lawn Care 11 What is Ozone? Ozone, or smog, is an odorless, colorless gas composed of three oxygen atoms. Ozone occurs naturally about 10 to 30 miles above the earth and protects us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. However, at ground-level in the air we breathe, ozone poses serious risks to human health.

Low Emission Lawn Care 12 Ozone is not emitted directly into the air but is created by a chemical reaction in the air: Where Does Ozone Come From? O3O3 + = VOC + NOx + Heat + Sunlight = Ozone Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) come from cars, trucks, buses, power plants, industrial facilities, citizen activities and other sources.

Low Emission Lawn Care 13 Ozone Is a Seasonal Pollutant Highest pollution levels in summer –(May-September) Hot, sunny afternoons & evenings typically have the highest ozone concentrations

Low Emission Lawn Care 14 What is Ozone Pollution? Every day, the average adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air, and children breathe even more air per pound of body weight. Ozone pollution has many effects on public health. Some of these are very serious. In the air we breathe, ozone poses serious risks to human health. Environmental repercussions - Ozone also adversely affects domestic and native plants and animals.

Low Emission Lawn Care 15 Why is Ozone Bad to Breathe? Ozone can irritate lung and airways, and cause inflammation much like a sunburn on your lungs. Ozone can aggravate respiratory illnesses such as asthma. 10 to 20 % of all summertime respiratory- related hospital visits in the US are associated with ozone pollution.

Low Emission Lawn Care 16 Health Effects of Exposure to Ozone Coughing Nose and throat irritation Chest pain Reduced lung function Increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses Aggravation of asthma Children and people with chronic lung diseases are particularly at risk

Low Emission Lawn Care 17 Ozone Pollution WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? Possible sourcesPossible sources Wichita citizens and businesses create our own urban air pollution. Ozone precursor compounds are transported to the Wichita urban area from Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, & Oklahoma by our south winds. Combination of the two above scenarios

Low Emission Lawn Care 18 What Makes a Bad Air Day (Ozone) in South Central Kansas? Hot temperatures… + Sunny skies… + South winds??? = unhealthy ozone levels Wichita Dept of Environmental Health and KDHE are working together to determine: –What local sources are significant contributors –The impact of weather and transport from other upwind urban/industrial areas

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Low Emission Lawn Care 20 What is Particulate Matter? Airborne “particulate matter” consists of many different substances suspended in the air in the form of particles (solid and liquid droplets) that vary widely in size.

Low Emission Lawn Care 21 Fine particles come from a variety of sources such as diesel trucks and buses, construction equipment, power plants, woodstoves, and wildfires. Fine particles are only a fraction of the size of a human hair. What are Fine Particles? Fine particles can also be formed in the atmosphere when gases are transformed by chemical reactions in the air. Fine Particles (2.5  m) Cross section of a human hair (magnified to 60  m) Coarse Particles (10  m)

Low Emission Lawn Care 22 Why are Fine Particles Bad to Breathe? Scientific studies have linked fine particles, with a series of significant health problems, because they easily reach the deepest parts of the lungs. In the US, particulate matter, especially fine particles, is responsible for 15,000 premature deaths every year. Diesel exhaust, a significant source of fine particles, can cause lung cancer.

Low Emission Lawn Care 23 Health Effects of Exposure to Fine Particles Premature death Respiratory related hospital admissions and emergency room visits for cardiac and other conditions Aggravated asthma Acute respiratory symptoms Chronic bronchitis Decreased lung function (shortness of breath) People with existing heart and lung disease, as well as the elderly and children, are particularly at risk

Low Emission Lawn Care 24 What Can You Do?  Avoid strenuous outdoor activities when ozone levels are high  Share a ride or take public transportation  Cut your grass after 6 pm  Refuel your car after 6 pm (fuel when it’s cool)  Combine your errands into one trip  Purchase low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles (

Low Emission Lawn Care 25 Why lawn and garden?

Low Emission Lawn Care 26 Lawn and garden is the largest non-road mobile category contributing VOCs

Low Emission Lawn Care 27 Kansas non-road mobile source emissions (2002 NEI)

Low Emission Lawn Care 28 Kansas commercial lawn and garden emissions (2002 NEI)

Low Emission Lawn Care 29 Kansas residential lawn and garden emissions (2002 NEI)

Low Emission Lawn Care 30 Where To Check On Local Air Quality? “Real Time” Air Quality Data on the Web at: Information on Air Quality on the Web at: Provides helpful information on air quality issues, increases awareness, and provides education to citizens and businesses about air pollution and how they can help.

Low Emission Lawn Care 31 Addressing the problem Prevention is best Adjusting mow times Low maintenance turf option –Existing master gardener publications Low emission equipment Equipment maintenance –Very important and practical

Low Emission Lawn Care 32 Reduce emissions through maintenance Tune upTune up your lawn mower once a year. This simple- to-do task takes 30 minutes or less and cuts your mower's emissions by up to 50 percent and fuel consumption up to 30 percent. ( Tune up

Low Emission Lawn Care 33 Equipment maintenance - engines Engine oil and filter –Longer life –25-50 hours or annually Spark plugs –Better starting – annually –2-cycle engines Air filters – clean or replace –Improves fuel efficiency –Improves performance – HP –Some 2-cycles have compensating carburetors

Low Emission Lawn Care 34 Equipment maintenance Mowers Blades – correctly sharpen –Better looking lawn (cut verses torn grass) –Requires less fuel - saves fuel –Stays sharp longer – 1/64 th rule –Check 3 holidays

Low Emission Lawn Care 35 Equipment maintenance Leveling the deck Owners manual Questions Split boom trimmer Questions: Darrel Stinson Conrady Western John Deere

Low Emission Lawn Care 36 Equipment maintenance Disposal of used oil –Jiffy Lubes –Wal-Mart –Household Hazardous Waste Oil, solvents, bad gas, and other chemicals –Sedgwick County Household Hazardous Waste facility (5 blocks South of Kellogg, 2 blocks east of Seneca)

Low Emission Lawn Care 37 Household Hazardous Waste Facility

Low Emission Lawn Care 38 HHW – swap and shop

Low Emission Lawn Care 39 Equipment evolution New manufacturers standards –EPA –California Electric equipment – mowers and handheld –Issues with batteries –Readily available Solar powered

Low Emission Lawn Care 40 Equipment evolution Reel mowers –Readily available Handheld –2-cycle verse 4-cycle –Weight of unit –Scavenge technology –Compensating carburetor –“easy-start” spring loaded

Low Emission Lawn Care 41 No-spill gas cans Stats –75% reduction in VOCs –17 million gallons spilt annually with conventional cans Where to get them –Atwood 6235 N Broadway –Woodard Mercantile 4160 N. Maize Road

Low Emission Lawn Care 42 Low maintenance lawn care options Prevent need to mow –Reduced turf areas OrnamentalsGroundcover Native planting Low maintenance turf options –Chapter 8 Master Gardener manual

Low Emission Lawn Care 43 Low maintenance turf Decrease or minimize fertilizing –Pages Turf species –Buffalo –Zoysia –Bermuda –Tall fescue –Kentucky Bluegrass

Low Emission Lawn Care 44 Turf options Fertilizer Drought- tolerant Mowing season Short mowing Buffalo Page 19 LessYes A – S shorterYes Zoysia Page 14 LessYes A – S shorterYes Bermuda Page 10 MoreYes A – S shorteryes Fescue page 7 More + Moderate March - Nov No Kentucky Bluegrass Page 24 More+Moderate March - Nov No

Low Emission Lawn Care 45 Master Gardener Documents Chapter 8 K-State fact sheets –Turfgrass selection – professional series –Turfgrass mowing – professional series –Mowing your lawn -

Low Emission Lawn Care 46 Why is this important? Master gardener connection Common questions – expert advise –Low maintenance turf –Brown lawns –Tune ups –Equipment choices Personal and community health November 2 nd event

Low Emission Lawn Care 47 Door prizes Gas cans –Small Business Environmental Assistance Program John Deere

Low Emission Lawn Care 48 Suggestions or Questions?  Wichita - call Nancy at ext. 104  SBEAP Hotline www.sbeap.org