Overview

Abstract (English)

Lawns are ubiquitous across North America, so the majority of households engage in yard work. The equipment involved in that work has environmental consequences, most notably due to the type of fuel used (gas, electric, or manual). This quantitative study examines the use of yard work equipment by Canadian households over the period from 2007 to 2015 using Statistics Canada’s Households and the Environment Survey (HES). It finds that lawnmower and grass trimmer use have stayed fairly constant over time. Gas lawnmowers remain heavily favoured by Canadians. More concerning is that leaf blower and snow blower use have increased markedly over the period, both for gas and electric options. With ecological modernization through technology improvements, use of these types of equipment has become more widespread, supporting the unsustainable economic systems perspective. Regression analysis of the 2007 data shows that where people live has a greater influence on choice of equipment than household composition.

Abstract (French)

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