The days of being awoken by an early morning lawnmower may be numbered.
Two Vancouver city councillors, Coun. Adriane Carr and Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung, have motions coming up at next week's council meeting taking aim at two-stroke engines used in landscaping equipment. The small, loud, gas-powered engines are often used for a variety of landscape equipment, from chainsaws to leaf blowers. Both motions take aim at the noise and greenhouse gas emissions.
In a statement, Carr writes that two-stroke engines are inefficient when compared to other gas engines. In her motion she also notes there are comparable electric versions that are on the market currently.
"The battery-powered equipment produces much less noise and vibration, no direct emissions of greenhouse gasses or health-harming air contaminants, and is often lighter than its gas-powered counterpart," states Carr. "These technological advances are expected to continue."
Carr's motion also notes the Vancouver School Board is transitioning to "emission-free alternatives" and both motions highlight the Vancouver parks board's move to "zero-emission" equipment.
"Full transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. A U.B.C. study estimated that if the Park Board switched all of its 2-stroke engines to electric, by year two it would save $300,000 to $450,000 per year," notes Carr in her motion.
Both also cite noise as a major factor as well; the province's HealthLink website states sounds above 85 decibels are harmful depending on how often and how long someone is exposed, and what sort of protection they wear. HealthLink also notes lawn mowers are around 90 decibels.
Kirby-Yung's motion says complaints regarding landscaping equipment have been increasing.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, the negative noise impacts from gasoline-powered landscape maintenance equipment have been significantly heightened for residents with so many people working from home and spending considerably more time at home," states the motion.
Due to a vote in March that puts a moratorium on council creating new work for the Development, Buildings and Licensing department, both motions lack any immediate requests. Carr's motion asks the council to affirm the city's own pursuit of emissions-free landscaping equipment and direct staff to provide input in the regional district's 2021 Clean Air Plan.
In Kirby-Yung's motion staff are directed to report back with a plan to phase out landscape equipment using gasoline in the city, but not to start that work until January 2022.
The motions are part of the June 8 council meeting agenda.
