Should gas powered leaf blowers be banned? In a recent argument posted by 'The Atlantic,' journalist James Fallows says, “Yes, they should.” He points out the dangerous level of noise emitted by hand-held, gas-powered blowers, and argues that there is a degree of social inequity involved as well.
While we do not agree with everything he says, we do appreciate Fallows’ argument as an opportunity to publicly discuss an issue which impacts not only our industry but also business and society. We hope the following response will shed light on the issue from an inside-the-industry perspective.
Until very recently, the challenge for our industry, and the reason noisy leaf blowers are still the standard, has been two-fold:
As little as five years ago, despite significant advancements in battery powered construction tools such as drills and saws, we were not seeing the technology advance in applications viable for use in commercial landscaping.
But now, things are different. In October of 2018 we attended the NALP Landscapes and GIE Expo, and our attention was caught by the advancements in battery technology. We now see viable options to equip our employees with equipment that can produce comparable production without any of the gas engine noise.
This is a significant milestone for our industry. Essentially, it’s like transitioning from the horse and harness to the tractor and 3-point hitch. We honestly believe it's that significant, and we are taking immediate action to incorporate this new technology.
After returning from the conference, we decided to make the company-wide switch to new, quiet, battery-powered hand-held landscaping equipment wherever possible. Here are the top reasons why we feel this decision will benefit our company, our employees, our customers, and our community:
This is a short list of benefits; we will doubtless add to it as we implement the changeover and begin to realize all of the advantages and opportunities we will enjoy and seize with this endeavor.
Now, this is where we deviate from Mr. Fallows’ argument. He used a scary word, "ban". The use of this word carries many implications, including government intervention in the form of regulation, statute, code, etc.
We at Klausing Group do believe that as an industry we should do better. However, we take issue with the notion that the only, or most effective, or most efficient mechanism for industry change is government.
We believe it is the responsibility of business to implement improved practices as those improvement opportunities become naturally available in the market. Many well-meaning people outside the industry aren’t aware of how even the best intended regulation can throw a monkey wrench into the works of a business. Arbitrary timelines and a lack of understanding of how the industry really works can result in laws that actually complicate, challenge, and confound a process that is already well on its way without interference.
Some may argue that government mandate will expedite the process. Our question would be, to what end, and are you sure?
At Klausing Group, our mission is to improve quality of life for our clients, our associates, and the environment. When it comes to equipping our employees (as well as all other issues), we seek to fulfill our mission in a way that is practical, affordable, and sustainable. We believe that in doing so, we will provide an optimal solution that will satisfy all stakeholders without requiring non-stakeholders to take on the burden and cost of legislation, codification and enforcement.
Let those of us who are responsible and insightful lead our industry. This will allow the market to enforce newer, better standards. Nothing can compete with the enforcement of competitive advantage—and it doesn’t cost the taxpayer a penny.
Is our plan perfect? Certainly not. But we contend that industry driven solutions will be more informed and pragmatic while fostering innovation and discovery. What do you think?
To talk to us about low-impact commercial landscape maintenance services, call us at 859-254-0762 or contact us here today.