Why are we leaf blowing at 7am????

[u/forjesus420]

It's 7am. What property managers are instructing their landscapers to leaf blow for an hour starting at 7am? Just wanna talk.

Edit: I mean, it's 8am but they started at 7 😭 How many leaves can there even be?

Edit edit: omg guys. I didnt realize it was life or death. Thank you for enlightening me.

I also have learned the internet is NOT a space to ever speak negatively and that doing so must inherently make me an absolutely selfish unempathrtic person. I've learned a lot and I'm very grateful. 🙏

Edit two electric boogalo: I'm also anti-homeless and ungrateful for a place to live!! Im learning and growing, guys! Thank you. 🤍

🏰The Last Edit 🦄: I work in property management and understand the nature of being working class, and having a job to do. I understand the citys noise ordinance quiet hours end at 7 am. I understand no matter when you do it, someones mad. Apparently (editception: CITY OWNED) gas leaf blowers will be banned in 2027 (and there will be a study done to consider a full ban). I understand theyre expensive and less powerful. I think landscapers should charge the extra cost back to property management/owners, because, despite the worsening inflation, they took on the risk (and no, rents shouldn't increase because of it.) I understand some people think if the electric blower is not powerful enough, the pile is too big. I think the act of moving leaves around over and over and never actually removing them seems like a waste of time.

I apologize for my sins, and have asked Jesus to forgive me. I appreciate everyones humor and insight. Go hawks, or whatever!

[u/Zealousideal-Ant9548]

Seriously, I was just thinking about this because the leaf blowers around my house.  I was in Venice and heading to the airport at 5:00 a.m. in the main plaza where all the trains come in was being leaf blowed by someone with a giant blower with a battery pack backpack. 

It was pretty quiet compared to the s*** I hear regularly here. 

Not to mention all these gas-powered blowers. No one's using a gas mask near so they're all heavily polluting their lungs.  Even putting a f****** muffler on these things would be better for everyone.

[u/SpeaksSouthern → u/Zealousideal-Ant9548]

Gas powered leaf blowers pollute more than a hundred cars, it's because they're smaller and more dense, and it's much more specific to the area where they do it.

[u/BoringBob84 → u/SpeaksSouthern]

No they don't. Yes, the exhaust gases are dirtier, but there is a tiny fraction of the quantity of the gases in comparison to a car.

[u/Zealousideal-Ant9548 → u/BoringBob84]

They used the word pollute specifically.  Regardless, they'll kill you quicker than battery powered blowers

[u/BoringBob84 → u/Zealousideal-Ant9548]

The danger from gasoline combustion was greatly reduced when we stopped adding lead to it. And I don't think that the complaint here is about the danger to the workers. It is about the annoyance of the noise for the neighbors.

I have tried gasoline, corded electric, and cordless electric leaf blowers. The corded electric blowers are my favorite. They are light-weight, low-cost, quiet, clean, maintenance-free, and powerful. Of course, the extension cord is a hassle, but I think the benefit justifies it.

[u/Zealousideal-Ant9548 → u/BoringBob84]

These are unmuffled and don't have a catalytic converter so they're pushing out some nasty stuff still. 

And why can't both problems be true?

[u/BoringBob84 → u/Zealousideal-Ant9548]

They have mufflers, but I agree that they are emitting unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants.

I also agree that both problems can be true. Leaf blowers with four-stroke engines with overhead valves are much cleaner (and quieter), but also more expensive.

[u/Equivalent_Chipmunk → u/BoringBob84]

It's a nuanced statement. It's not yes they do, or no they don't, it's partially true because, while they don't contribute nearly as much overall greenhouse gases to the atmosphere or emit other forms of pollution like microplastics from tires, they do emit like 100x worth of car's pollutants if you're only talking about pollutants relevant to the health and safety of those nearby you. Aka, not CO2.

[u/BoringBob84 → u/Equivalent_Chipmunk]

The claim is deceptive. The concentration of pollutants is much more. However, the total quantity of pollutants is much less. Flatulent cars are disgustingly dirty.

I understand regulating lawn equipment because of noise, but in regards to pollution, we have much larger fish to fry.

[u/Zealousideal-Ant9548 → u/BoringBob84]

Why not take care of both problems at the same time?

[u/BoringBob84 → u/Zealousideal-Ant9548]

I agree in a general sense. However, when we make regulations to solve a problem, then we should carefully consider the incentives that we provide to everyone who is affected.

If we ban gasoline-powered leaf blowers, then we increase the cost of maintenance for renters and homeowners at a time when housing costs are already unaffordable for many people.

I would like to see more nuance - change the economics - maybe restrict the hours and areas of operation according to the noise and pollution emissions, with Grandfather clauses for existing equipment (so that we don't punish the working class).

[u/Zealousideal-Ant9548 → u/BoringBob84]

WTF are you talking about?  The crews would save more money on gasoline but we need to force them into the better long-term solution. 

I would be against an incentive to help subsidize the purchase if we had the funds available

[u/BoringBob84 → u/Zealousideal-Ant9548]

WTF are you talking about?

I am talking about asking the people who are affected by the legislation how it affects them.

Battery powered blowers are more expensive, less powerful, and heavier. The batteries don't last very long, so a crew would need to have many batteries (i.e., more cost) and portable chargers at each job site (i.e., more cost).

When their services become more expensive, then less people hire them less often, and they are less able to pay their bills.

And maybe that is a trade-off that we want to make to reduce the noise and the pollution, but we should at least be honest about the impact to the workers.