Have you shopped for a new piece of yard equipment lately? The Environmental Protection Agency regulates big engines and little ones, like the one that powers your lawnmower or weed eater. That’s good, right? Better regulations on small engines which are used by the thousand across the United States means a big change in the emissions produced by these small engines. The major U.S. manufacturers, like Briggs and Stratton, are changing their engine designs and manufacturing processes to keep up.
Unfortunately, the changes in design and production aren’t all these companies have to overcome in order to go green. The biggest challenge for them is the flood of imports, mainly from China, that aren’t governed by any kind of environmental regulations and are produced en masse much cheaper than anything manufactured in the U.S.
So U.S. manufacturers are seeking help. An article from RedOrbit says that “Briggs, John Deere, Stihl and other companies with American plants are pushing the EPA to insert liability provisions, registration requirements and other wording in the new rule as a means stem the flow of Chinese equipment.”
Is this just about big American manufacturers cutting out the competition in the name of environmental awareness? Sure, money is part of it. Money is important when you run a business. Profits keep you going. The product compliance manager for Stihl, Inc., “noted in his recent letter to the EPA that his company invests millions of dollars to comply with EPA rules.” These companies are spending lots of money, so they’re trying to find ways to be sure they still produce a profit even with the added expense.
But it’s about more than money. A recent case resulted in a $2 million civil penalty for a Taiwanese manufacturer and three U.S. companies over imported “dirty” chain saws. But the chain saws had already been sold when the case was brought forth, so they’re already out there, “a failure that will result in 268 tons of carbon emissions pumped into the air during the saws’ lifetimes.”
The bottom line: American manufacturers aren’t green saints, by any means, but they are seeking to comply with EPA regulations and run profitable businesses. Imported engines that meet no standards can hurt those manufacturers and the environment.
So if your gas-powered yard equipment dies and you have to buy new, make sure it’s made by a manufacturer thatcomplies with the environmental regulations. The easiest way to be sure is to go with a name that’s familiar: Toro, Snapper, John Deere. These bigger companies won’t try to get away with importing “dirty-engine” machines to sell. Or you could just get a cow…
Image Credits: auntjojo, schoschie.
