In Oak Park, IL, landscapers use electric trimmers, leaf blowers, pruning saws, and electric lawn mowers to maintain parks. The device charges via solar energy.
Electric lawn care equipment is better for the climate than gas equipment because it emits no carbon pollution.
Chris Lindgren, associate director of properties and planning for the park district, said his staff is excited to use these clean, quiet tools.
Lindgren: “It really improves their quality of life when they go home to their families and, you know, their hands don't have to be shaking all day long with a lawnmower that vibrates or smells like fuel.”
But the battery that powers the device doesn't last all day. And it will take a lot of time to go to the store to recharge on weekdays.
So the park district added solar panels to the tops of its equipment trailers. The energy they generate is stored in a large battery, which is then used to charge electrical devices throughout the day.
Lindgren: “As they drive across town, they plug it in and they have quick access to a fully charged battery, which saves a lot of time.”
Clean, renewable energy is helping Oak Park landscapers do their jobs.
Report source: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media
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