Equipment Practices
Category: Equipment Practices, Grounds Management
Maintenance and landscaping crews use a range of gasoline or diesel-powered equipment such as lawn mowers, trucks, snow-plows and leaf-blowers. Replacing this equipment with cleaner power alternatives, such as electricity, biodiesel, or fuel cells can mitigate air pollution and carbon emissions. Electrically powered equipment can also help reduce noise pollution caused by louder internal combustion engines. Electric equipment is often more reliable and less maintenance intensive.
Benefits
- Reduced noise pollution
- Improved local and global air-quality
- Visible commitment to sustainability
Challenges
- Fossil-fuel powered equipment is typically cheaper on a first-cost basis
- Electric equipment requires a clean source of electricity to be truly carbon-free
- Switching equipment as older equipment is retired will take time
Impacts
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GHG Impact
Miniscule
More InfoCurrent equipment emissions are dwarfed by a campus’ overall footprint.
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Economic Impact
Neutral
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Feasibility
Some Challenges
More InfoMay require changes to current procurement policies.
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Timeline
1-2 years
More InfoDepends on how often equipment is replaced.
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Maintenance
Moderate
More InfoElectric equipment has significantly lower maintenance requirements compared to fossil-fuel powered equipment.
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Publicity
Under the radar
More InfoMany people appreciate the reduced noise pollution and emissions on campus.
