Unless you really and truly need one, that is.
The lack of respect given to the push reel mower is a good example of how mindset affects consumer behavior. I’m referring to the type of mower with a rotating cylinder of blades that is powered by your muscles. This post is not really about saving energy. Small residential lawn mowers use very little gasoline compared to our transportation and heating uses of oil. Rather, I find choice of lawn mowers revealing about the nature of consumer choices, specifically about the American love affair with engines, noise and power (NASCAR, anyone?).
In the past week, we’ve spent some time discussing things people might be willing to do to conserve energy. Here’s a no-brainer for those with small-to-medium sized yards. Push mowers are far superior to gasoline powered mowers. Most people simply don’t consider this choice, however. Thanks to sales hype regarding the much more expensive gasoline-burning models, buying a non-gasoline powered mower never ever occurs to most people. Major hardware stores relegate such mowers to the back shelf. Consumer Reports gives little attention to these wonderful machines, year after year.
I speak from experience. I’ve used a push-reel non-engine lawn mowers for 12 years. They are as easy to operate as those powerful roaring gas-powered mowers. Here are seven solid reasons to chose a no-gasoline model next time you buy a mower:
- Push-reel mowers cost only $100 brand new. The mower I bought was manufactured by American Lawn Mower Company,
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