How a Utah Dad is Using Electric Lawn Care For Good
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah consistently ranks among the worst states in the nation for air quality. During inversion season, emissions primarily from cars and trucks settle into the valleys and become trapped by the surrounding mountains, creating serious health concerns for individuals and families.
For Christoph Heinrich, founder and owner of Blue Planet Lawn, the issue became personal.
“We have three children,” Heinrich said. “I remember one of them coming home from elementary school and saying, ‘We had to do indoor recess today because the air pollution was so bad.’ They weren’t allowed to go outside at all. And I just thought, this can’t be right.”
That moment became a turning point for Heinrich; one that would lead him from a career in software development to reinvent lawn care in Utah.
Blue Planet Lawn is a zero-emission lawn care company using battery powered, solar charged equipment. With a mission centered around environmental stewardship and a goal to reduce noise pollution, it works year-round to combat air pollutants.
Most Utahns are familiar with air problems in the winter, but Salt Lake also struggles in the summer with ozone.
“With all the heat and sunlight we get, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from lawn equipment react and create ground-level ozone,” Heinrich explained.
And according to the American Lung Association, running a standard leaf blower for one hour generates the approximate emissions equivalent of driving from Denver to Los Angeles.
In the United States, gas-powered lawn care equipment contributes 5%-10% of total air pollution, according to the EPA. This has lead the Utah Department of Environmental Quality to promote campaigns like “#NoMowDays” and other ways to trim both grass and your emissions.
“In Salt Lake, lawn care alone can account for up to 10% of air pollution because it is so densely populated,” Heinrich said. “So, if we can change the lawn care industry as a whole, we can reduce air pollution by 10% which is a massive, significant reduction.”
Blue Planet Lawn isn’t just focused on reducing air pollution — cutting noise pollution is part of the goal as well.
Typical gas-powered equipment can be loud enough to stress pets and people who are sensitive to noise, like those in hospitals or care facilities. From office buildings to residential neighborhoods, many people keep their windows closed when crews are working nearby.
“Noise pollution is a real issue, and it’s one that doesn’t get talked about enough,” said Heinrich. “My team and I use electric equipment to mitigate that noise with a goal to create a peaceful environment in our clients' neighborhoods.”
Blue Planet Lawn’s process for providing quality lawn care involves utilizing “- enclosed utility trailers with solar panels on top” of Heinrich’s own design, which store all the equipment and extra batteries.
This enables the team to switch off from task to task, i.e. mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges, while batteries are getting charged, allowing for a full day's work all powered by the sun.
“A lot of lawn care companies are hesitant to switch to electric because they assume the equipment won’t last all day. But just last Friday, one of our crews worked twelve and a half hours and had power the entire time. When it’s done right, it’s absolutely doable.”
For more information about Blue Planet Lawn, visit the website.