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Household

Gasoline lawn mower (1 hour use)

Bensiinikäyttöinen ruohonleikkuri (1 tunnin käyttö)

13.4
Truecost score
Data confidence: HIGH

Fuel consumption and emissions well-documented by EPA. Toxicity is the standout dimension — small engines are exceptionally dirty.

A gasoline push mower burns ~1.5 liters/hour producing ~3.5 kg CO₂e. The real problem is air pollution: one hour of mowing produces smog-forming emissions equal to driving 40 new cars for an hour.

Did you know? A gas lawn mower produces the same smog-forming emissions in one hour as 40 new cars. Small engines lack catalytic converters and account for 4–5% of US air pollution.
Transparent calculation

How was this number determined?

The Truecost score is calculated from absolute physical values. Each row below shows the measured value, how it was normalized, and where it comes from.

Dimension Absolute value Score 100 = Normalized Weight Weighted Confidence
Carbon Emissions 3.5 kg CO₂e 9.5 kg CO₂e 36.84 ×0.35 12.89 HIGH
Water Consumption 2.0 liters 3840 liters 0.05 ×0.2 0.01 MEDIUM
Land Use 0.0 m²·year 51 m²·year 0.0 ×0.2 0.00 HIGH
Waste 0.01 kg 5 kg 0.2 ×0.15 0.03 MEDIUM
Toxicity 8.0 µDALY 162 µDALY 4.94 ×0.1 0.49 HIGH
Truecost score (weighted sum) 13.4

Share of your annual planetary budget

Carbon Emissions 0.37%
Water Consumption <0.01%
Waste <0.01%
Toxicity 0.05%
Source data by dimension

Where do the absolute values come from?

Carbon Emissions
HIGH
Push mower fuel consumption: ~1.3–1.5 L/hour (3 kW engine). Gasoline combustion: 2.31 kg CO₂/L. 1.5 × 2.31 = 3.47 kg direct CO₂. Lifecycle (extraction, refining): +10% → ~3.5 kg CO₂e.
  • US EPA (2023): National emissions from lawn and garden equipment
  • Swedish EPA (2022): Lawn mower emissions study — carbon footprint of 1 hour = 100-mile car trip
  • EIA (2024): CO₂ Emissions Coefficients by Fuel

Riding mowers: 5–8 L/h → 12–19 kg CO₂e/h. Push mowers are more efficient.

Water Consumption
MEDIUM
Gasoline refining: ~1.5 L water/L fuel. 1.5 L fuel × 1.5 = ~2.3 L. Rounded to 2 L.
  • Wu & Chiu (2011): Life-cycle water consumption of petroleum refining
Land Use
HIGH
No land use beyond the lawn itself (which is the purpose of the mowing).
Waste
MEDIUM
2-stroke oil residue, air filter wear, grass clippings (organic, not counted as waste). ~10 g mechanical waste per hour amortized.
Toxicity
HIGH
Small engines lack catalytic converters. Emit VOCs, CO, PM2.5 at very high rates. EPA: 1 hour = emissions from 40 new cars for 1 hour. Operator exposure significant due to proximity.
  • US EPA (2023): Lawn equipment emissions
  • People Powered Machines: Lawn mower emission facts
  • Portland Press Herald (2022): Lawnmowers emit as much pollution as a car

Smog-forming emissions (VOC + NOx) are the main health concern, not CO₂. Operators breathe exhaust directly.

Comparisons

Methodology

Based on EPA lawn equipment emission data and Swedish EPA lifecycle study. Push mower with 3 kW engine. Gasoline CO₂ factor from EIA.

Sources