Between now and the end of May, Central Oklahomans are invited to take 10 to 15 minutes to provide feedback on air quality in Central Oklahoma. All respondents will be entered to win a brand-new, 19-inch electric cordless mulching rear bag lawnmower which has an MSRP of $400.
The Central Oklahoma Air Quality survey is intended to gauge public awareness of the status of air quality within Central Oklahoma as well as “active transportation”, a term that encompasses bicycling, walking and transit. These modes of transportation similarly contribute to air quality by reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicle trips and therefore reducing the presence of smog-forming emissions.
A 2001 study published in Environmental Science & Technology found the pollution emitted from a gas-powered lawnmower over the course of 1 hour is the same as that of a 100-mile automobile ride. The engines of gas-powered mowers are scaled down versions of those in automobiles so they similarly produce smog-forming emissions, so much so that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates gas-powered lawnmowers could contribute as much as 5% to the nation’s air pollution.