Post on 28-Dec-2015
Low Emission Lawn CareLow Emission Lawn Care
The Master Gardener The Master Gardener ConnectionConnection
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Low emission lawn careLow emission lawn careWho we areWho we are– City of WichitaCity of Wichita– Conrady Western Inc.Conrady Western Inc.– KSU Small Business Environmental KSU Small Business Environmental
Assistance ProgramAssistance ProgramK-State programK-State programOffice here at Extension (room 104)Office here at Extension (room 104)Provide environmental assistance to small Provide environmental assistance to small business – free, confidential, non-regulatorybusiness – free, confidential, non-regulatoryLawn care project this fallLawn care project this fall
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Low emission lawn care?Low emission lawn care?
Why - environmental impactWhy - environmental impact– OzoneOzone– Health impactsHealth impacts
A conventional lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as 40 late A conventional lawn mower pollutes as much in an hour as 40 late model cars. model cars.
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Program overviewProgram overview
Introductions and program overviewIntroductions and program overview
Defining the air quality problem Defining the air quality problem – what is ozonewhat is ozone– what are the health issues what are the health issues – how does this relate to lawn care and our program?how does this relate to lawn care and our program?
Opportunities to address the problemOpportunities to address the problem– equipment maintenanceequipment maintenance– low emission equipmentlow emission equipment– low maintenance turf options and reduced turf arealow maintenance turf options and reduced turf area
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Program overviewProgram overview
Conclusion - Why is this important to Conclusion - Why is this important to master gardeners?master gardeners?– Common questions – expert adviseCommon questions – expert advise– Personal and community healthPersonal and community health
Door prizes Door prizes
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How do we measure air How do we measure air pollution levels?pollution levels?
An air quality monitor is an instrument An air quality monitor is an instrument that takes a sample of air and measures that takes a sample of air and measures the amount of an air pollutant such as the amount of an air pollutant such as ozone or particulate matter in the air.ozone or particulate matter in the air.
All air monitors in the national network All air monitors in the national network have to meet the same strict quality have to meet the same strict quality control standards so that data from all control standards so that data from all sites across the country is accurate and sites across the country is accurate and comparable. comparable.
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Air Pollutants of Local Air Pollutants of Local ConcernConcern
Ground Level Ozone (O3)
Particulate Matter•PM 2.5•PM 10
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
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Typical Air Monitoring Typical Air Monitoring Site LayoutSite Layout
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Air Monitoring NetworkAir Monitoring Network
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Health Effects of Health Effects of Exposure to OzoneExposure to Ozone
AsthmaAsthma
is the fastest growing is the fastest growing childhood childhood
disease disease in the United States in the United States
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What is Ozone?What is Ozone?Ozone, or smog, is an odorless, colorless Ozone, or smog, is an odorless, colorless gas composed of three oxygen atoms.gas composed of three oxygen atoms.
• Ozone occurs naturally about 10 to 30 miles above the earth and protects us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
• However, at ground-level in the air we breathe, ozone poses serious risks to human health.
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Ozone is not emitted directly into the air Ozone is not emitted directly into the air but is created by a chemical reaction in but is created by a chemical reaction in the air: the air:
Where Does Where Does OzoneOzone Come From?Come From?
O3+ =
VOC + NOx + Heat + Sunlight = Ozone
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) come from cars, trucks, buses, power plants, industrial facilities, citizen activities and other sources.
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OzoneOzone
Is a Seasonal Pollutant Is a Seasonal Pollutant
Highest pollution levels in Highest pollution levels in summersummer– (May-September)(May-September)
Hot, sunny afternoons & Hot, sunny afternoons & evenings typically have the evenings typically have the highest ozone concentrationshighest ozone concentrations
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What is Ozone What is Ozone Pollution?Pollution?
Every day, the average adult breathes over Every day, the average adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air, and children breathe even 3,000 gallons of air, and children breathe even more air per pound of body weight.more air per pound of body weight.
Ozone pollution has many effects on public Ozone pollution has many effects on public health. Some of these are very serious.health. Some of these are very serious.
In the air we breathe, ozone poses serious In the air we breathe, ozone poses serious risks to human health.risks to human health.
Environmental repercussions - Ozone also Environmental repercussions - Ozone also adversely affects domestic and native plants adversely affects domestic and native plants and animals.and animals.
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Why is Why is OzoneOzone Bad to Bad to Breathe?Breathe?
Ozone can irritate lung and airways, Ozone can irritate lung and airways, and cause inflammation much like a and cause inflammation much like a sunburn on your lungs.sunburn on your lungs.
• Ozone can aggravate respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
• 10 to 20 % of all summertime respiratory-related hospital visits in the US are associated with ozone pollution.
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Health Effects of Health Effects of Exposure to Exposure to OzoneOzone
CoughingCoughing
• Nose and throat irritation
• Chest pain
• Reduced lung function
• Increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses• Aggravation of asthma
• Children and people with chronic lung diseases are particularly at risk
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Ozone PollutionOzone Pollution• WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?
• Possible sourcesPossible sourcesWichita citizens and businesses create our own Wichita citizens and businesses create our own urban air pollution.urban air pollution.
Ozone precursor compounds are transported to the Ozone precursor compounds are transported to the Wichita urban area from Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Wichita urban area from Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, & Oklahoma by our south winds.& Oklahoma by our south winds.
Combination of the two above scenariosCombination of the two above scenarios
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What Makes a Bad Air Day What Makes a Bad Air Day ((OzoneOzone) in South Central ) in South Central
Kansas?Kansas?Hot temperatures…+
Sunny skies…+
South winds???
= unhealthy ozone levels
Wichita Dept of Environmental Health and
KDHE are working together to determine:
–What local sources are significant contributors
–The impact of weather and transport from other upwind urban/industrial
areas
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Wichita Health Dept. - Ozone 8-Hour
0.000
0.010
0.020
0.030
0.040
0.050
0.060
0.070
0.080
0.090
0.100
86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04
Year
PPM
4th High Daily Maximum 8 Hr.
8-Hour Standard = .084 PPM
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What is Particulate Matter?What is Particulate Matter?Airborne “particulate matter” consists of many Airborne “particulate matter” consists of many different substances suspended in the air in the form different substances suspended in the air in the form of particles (solid and liquid droplets) that vary widely of particles (solid and liquid droplets) that vary widely in size. in size.
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• Fine particles come from a variety of sources such as diesel trucks and buses, construction equipment, power plants, woodstoves, and wildfires.
Fine particles are Fine particles are only a fraction of only a fraction of the size of a the size of a human hair.human hair.
What are Fine Particles?What are Fine Particles?
• Fine particles can also be formed in the atmosphere when gases are transformed by chemical reactions in the air.
Fine Particles(2.5 m)
Cross section of a human hair (magnified to 60 m)
Coarse Particles(10 m)
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Why are Fine ParticlesWhy are Fine Particles Bad to Breathe? Bad to Breathe?
Scientific studies have linked fine particles, with Scientific studies have linked fine particles, with a series of significant health problems, because a series of significant health problems, because they easily reach the deepest parts of the lungs.they easily reach the deepest parts of the lungs.
• In the US, particulate matter, especially fine particles, is responsible for 15,000 premature deaths every year.
• Diesel exhaust, a significant source of fine particles, can cause lung cancer.
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Health Effects of Exposure Health Effects of Exposure to Fine Particlesto Fine Particles
Premature deathPremature death
• Respiratory related hospital admissions and emergency room visits for cardiac and other conditions
• Aggravated asthma
• Acute respiratory symptoms• Chronic bronchitis• Decreased lung function (shortness of
breath)• People with existing heart and lung disease, as well as the elderly and children, are particularly at risk
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What Can You Do?What Can You Do? Avoid strenuous outdoor activities when Avoid strenuous outdoor activities when
ozone levels are highozone levels are high
Share a ride or take public transportationShare a ride or take public transportation
Cut your grass after 6 pmCut your grass after 6 pm
Refuel your car after 6 pm (fuel when it’s Refuel your car after 6 pm (fuel when it’s cool)cool)
Combine your errands into one tripCombine your errands into one trip
Purchase low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles (www.epa.gov/autoemissions)
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Why lawn and garden?Why lawn and garden?
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Lawn and garden is the largest non-road Lawn and garden is the largest non-road mobile category contributing VOCsmobile category contributing VOCs
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Kansas non-road mobile source Kansas non-road mobile source emissions (2002 NEI)emissions (2002 NEI)
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Kansas commercial lawn and garden Kansas commercial lawn and garden emissions (2002 NEI)emissions (2002 NEI)
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Kansas residential lawn and Kansas residential lawn and garden emissions garden emissions (2002 NEI)(2002 NEI)
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Where To Check On Local Air Where To Check On Local Air Quality?Quality?
““Real Time” Air Quality Data on the Real Time” Air Quality Data on the Web at: Web at: www.wichita.gov/aqwww.wichita.gov/aq
Information on Air Quality on the Web Information on Air Quality on the Web at:at:
www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/Environmental/www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/Environmental/AirQuality/AirQuality/
Provides helpful information on air quality issues, Provides helpful information on air quality issues, increases awareness, and provides education to increases awareness, and provides education to citizens and businesses about air pollution and how citizens and businesses about air pollution and how they can help.they can help.
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Addressing the problemAddressing the problem
Prevention is bestPrevention is best
Adjusting mow timesAdjusting mow times
Low maintenance turf optionLow maintenance turf option– Existing master gardener publicationsExisting master gardener publications
Low emission equipmentLow emission equipment
Equipment maintenanceEquipment maintenance– Very important and practicalVery important and practical
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Reduce emissions through Reduce emissions through maintenancemaintenance
Tune upTune up your lawn mower your lawn mower once a year. This simple-once a year. This simple-to-do task takes 30 to-do task takes 30 minutes or less and cuts minutes or less and cuts your mower's emissions your mower's emissions by up to 50 percent and by up to 50 percent and fuel consumption up to 30 fuel consumption up to 30 percent. percent. (www.mowertuneup.com)(www.mowertuneup.com)
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Equipment maintenance - enginesEquipment maintenance - engines
Engine oil and filter Engine oil and filter – Longer lifeLonger life– 25-50 hours or annually25-50 hours or annually
Spark plugsSpark plugs– Better starting – annuallyBetter starting – annually– 2-cycle engines2-cycle engines
Air filters – clean or replaceAir filters – clean or replace– Improves fuel efficiencyImproves fuel efficiency– Improves performance – HPImproves performance – HP– Some 2-cycles have compensating carburetorsSome 2-cycles have compensating carburetors
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Equipment maintenanceEquipment maintenance
MowersMowers
Blades – correctly Blades – correctly sharpensharpen– Better looking lawn Better looking lawn
(cut verses torn grass)(cut verses torn grass)– Requires less fuel -Requires less fuel -
saves fuelsaves fuel– Stays sharp longer – Stays sharp longer –
1/641/64thth rule rule– Check 3 holidays Check 3 holidays
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Equipment maintenanceEquipment maintenance
Leveling the deckLeveling the deck
Owners manualOwners manual
QuestionsQuestions
Split boom trimmerSplit boom trimmer
Questions:Questions:
Darrel StinsonDarrel Stinson
Conrady WesternConrady Western
John DeereJohn Deere
943-4261943-4261
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Equipment maintenanceEquipment maintenance
Disposal of used oilDisposal of used oil– Jiffy LubesJiffy Lubes– Wal-MartWal-Mart– Household Hazardous WasteHousehold Hazardous Waste
Oil, solvents, bad gas, and other Oil, solvents, bad gas, and other chemicalschemicals– Sedgwick County Household Hazardous Sedgwick County Household Hazardous
Waste facility Waste facility (5 blocks South of Kellogg, 2 blocks east of (5 blocks South of Kellogg, 2 blocks east of Seneca)Seneca)
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Household Hazardous Waste Household Hazardous Waste FacilityFacility
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HHW – swap and shopHHW – swap and shop
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Equipment evolutionEquipment evolution
New manufacturers New manufacturers standardsstandards– EPAEPA– CaliforniaCalifornia
Electric equipment – Electric equipment – mowers and handheldmowers and handheld– Issues with batteriesIssues with batteries– Readily availableReadily available
Solar poweredSolar powered
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Equipment evolutionEquipment evolution
Reel mowersReel mowers– Readily availableReadily available
HandheldHandheld– 2-cycle verse 4-cycle2-cycle verse 4-cycle– Weight of unitWeight of unit– Scavenge technologyScavenge technology– Compensating carburetorCompensating carburetor– ““easy-start” spring loadedeasy-start” spring loaded
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No-spill gas cansNo-spill gas cans
StatsStats– 75% reduction in VOCs75% reduction in VOCs– 17 million gallons spilt 17 million gallons spilt
annually with conventional annually with conventional canscans
Where to get themWhere to get them– Atwood Atwood
6235 N Broadway6235 N Broadway– Woodard MercantileWoodard Mercantile
4160 N. Maize Road4160 N. Maize Road
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Low maintenance lawn care Low maintenance lawn care optionsoptions
Prevent need to mowPrevent need to mow– Reduced turf areasReduced turf areas
OrnamentalsOrnamentals
GroundcoverGroundcover
Native plantingNative planting
Low maintenance turf optionsLow maintenance turf options– Chapter 8 Master Gardener manualChapter 8 Master Gardener manual
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Low maintenance turfLow maintenance turf
Decrease or minimize fertilizingDecrease or minimize fertilizing– Pages 39-42 Pages 39-42
Turf speciesTurf species– BuffaloBuffalo– ZoysiaZoysia– BermudaBermuda– Tall fescue Tall fescue – Kentucky BluegrassKentucky Bluegrass
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Turf optionsTurf optionsFertilizerFertilizer Drought-Drought-
toleranttolerantMowing Mowing seasonseason
Short Short mowingmowing
BuffaloBuffaloPage 19Page 19
LessLess YesYes A – SA – S
shortershorter
YesYes
ZoysiaZoysiaPage 14Page 14
LessLess YesYes A – SA – S
shortershorter
YesYes
BermudaBermudaPage 10Page 10
MoreMore YesYes A – SA – S
shortershorter
yesyes
Fescue Fescue page 7page 7
More +More + ModerateModerate March - March - NovNov
NoNo
Kentucky Kentucky BluegrassBluegrassPage 24Page 24
More+More+ ModerateModerate March - March - NovNov
NoNo
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Master Gardener DocumentsMaster Gardener Documents
Chapter 8Chapter 8
K-State fact sheetsK-State fact sheets– Turfgrass selection – professional seriesTurfgrass selection – professional series– Turfgrass mowing – professional seriesTurfgrass mowing – professional series– Mowing your lawn - Mowing your lawn -
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Why is this important?Why is this important?
Master gardener connectionMaster gardener connection
Common questions – expert adviseCommon questions – expert advise– Low maintenance turfLow maintenance turf– Brown lawnsBrown lawns– Tune upsTune ups– Equipment choicesEquipment choices
Personal and community healthPersonal and community health
November 2November 2ndnd event event
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Door prizesDoor prizes
Gas cansGas cans– Small Business Small Business
Environmental Assistance Environmental Assistance ProgramProgram
John DeereJohn Deere
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Suggestions or Questions?Suggestions or Questions?
Wichita -Wichita -call Nancy at call Nancy at 722-7721 ext. 104722-7721 ext. 104
Nlarson@ksu.eduNlarson@ksu.edu
SBEAP Hotline SBEAP Hotline 800-578-8898800-578-8898www.sbeap.orgwww.sbeap.org