Top Landscaping Firm Chooses Propane-Fueled Mowers
By PERC News Staff
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012
One of the 100 largest landscaping firms in the country is getting greener and has purchased 84 propane-fueled lawn mowers, replacing nearly 90 percent of its entire gasoline mower fleet.
Denver-based CoCal Landscapechose propane-powered mowers because the domestic-fuel reduces emissions compared with gasoline-fueled mowers. Compared with gasoline, propane offers a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, cuts carbon monoxide by more than 80 percent, and produces fewer ground-level ozone precursors and particulate matter.
“I want to be good to the environment,” and using a cleaner burning fuel is part of that, said Jesus ‘Chuy’ Medrano, cofounder and owner of CoCal.
Propane also offers costs savings for landscape contractors, says Medrano. He estimates CoCal saves about $1 a gallon by using propane instead of gasoline to fuel his mowers.
Since Medrano started CoCal 20 years ago it has grown to employ about 300, and generates about $11 million in annual revenues. Medrano is past president of the trade organization National Hispanic Landscape Alliance. Hispanics make up an estimated two-thirds of landscape industry employees nationwide.
CoCal spent more than $500,000 to modernize its fleet of commercial mowers to run on propane.
The Colorado Propane Gas Association worked with CoCal on the switch to propane, and will reimburse CoCal $105,000 through a mower incentive program it operates, said Baron Glassgow, executive directorof the association.
“Mr. Medrano is a leader among his peers and CoCal hasone of the largest mower fleets in Denver,” said Glassgow. “Working with an industry leader gives us the opportunity to demonstrate to other commercial mowers how well propane works.”
CoCal is using John Deere 647A and 667A stand-on units. Deere converted them to propane using a system certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, the strictest standards in the nation.
Propane offers commercial mowers other advantages besides price. Because of their lower emissions they can typically operate during ozone action days, making them more efficient than gas-powered mowers. In addition, there is virtually no fuel spillage and loss. The EPA estimates that 17 million gallons of gasoline are spilled every year while refueling landscape equipment.
Professional mowing firms nationwide are turning to propane-fueled mowers. The Propane Education & Research Council is offering a $1,000 incentive to qualified buyersof a new propane-fueled mower, and $500 for a converted mower. The purchaser must agree to share information about the mower’s performance for one mowing season.
Propane is a clean burning, domestically-produced fuel that saves its commercial users money. More than 90 percent of the propane used in the U.S. is produced in the U.S.
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