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
AUSTIN — 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.
Comments
5 Comments |
There is no need to "convert" gasoline-powered mowers to propane and risk losing the engine manufacturer's warranty. Dixie Chopper already builds a true propane-powered mower, powered by a 990cc Generac engine that has been designed and built to run on propane. report abuse
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Rhea Courtney Bozic
May 27, 2009 Votes: +1 |
Ferris also makes a propane mower! report abuse
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Michael B
May 27, 2009 Votes: +2 |
Dixie choppers units that have been avaliable are liquid run. Most onversions are vapor which produces more hp than liquid. Liquid conversions have proven to be much more problematic than vapor. Vapor gives the end user more run time per gallon. Kawasaki has backed the conversions of their engines and it does not void the engine warranty. report abuse
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Jimmy Godfrey
May 27, 2009 Votes: +2 |
Choppers i have worked on that are factory units running liquid, have had issues of frezze up proplems and cold start issues due to the liquid run systems thay are using at this point. Have converted many back to vapor for many people.Also the hazard of liquid splash to the skin and fire problems due to liquid entering the hot exhaust sys. Believe conversions are the only way to provide custs. with a full line up of propane equip. Also do not have to have many types of diffrent propane parts to accomidate diffrent manufactures sys. they have decided to use. report abuse
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James G. Lawton
May 27, 2009 Votes: +0 |
The over all use of propane instead of gas or diesel is available NOW. Wether it's OEM or conversion's the industry can make a difference to help reduce our dependency on imported oil. With fuel cost starting to rise again the 20-40% savings using propane is a very compelling advantage. The fact that owners never have to worry about loss of fuel to spillage or in employees vehicals. report abuse
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May 27, 2009
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