Local landscaping company converts gas-powered mowers to propane

Local landscaping company converts gas-powered mowers to propane

By Mark Collins Tuesday, 26 May 2009

Local landscaping company Clean Scapes maintains the lush landscape at the Texas State Capitol. While it is the company's job to make sure the grass stays green, Clean Scapes has also made it their mission to use green equipment.

 

Clean Scapes recently spent thousands of dollars converting their gas-powered mowers to propane ones. Propane mowers run on cleaner fuel, do not produce as many harmful emissions, and decreases fuel costs. Propane currently costs 30-50 percent less per gallon than diesel fuel.

“We maintain hundreds of properties around Central Texas and San Antonio, but we feel we should do it in the best environmentally-responsible way. Converting our mowers from gas to propane seems like the most productive way,” Clean Scapes co-owner Ivan Giraldo said.

Jay McCoy, owner of McCoy’s Lawn, the only company in the area who provides the conversion service, says Clean Scapes is one of only a handful of companies participating in the conversion. He notes that Clean Scapes has performed the most conversions to date.

“To show that a company such as Clean Scapes is doing what makes sense – using a more environmentally-friendly way to beautify the environment, which is what landscaping does, sets a good example for other companies,” said Stacy Neef, Central Texas Clean Cities Coordinator.

The Environmental Protection Agency says gas-powered mowers are responsible for 5 percent of air pollution. Propane is an EPA Approved Alternative Fuel. Using propane also allows companies to operate their equipment on environmentally sensitive Ozone Action Days, a warning Austin and surrounding areas see quite frequently from April to October.

For more information, contact Emily Schmitz at 630-8068.