National Mall goes green, mows clean with propane

On June 24, the National Mall and Memorial Parks (NAMA) fired up the engines on its first and only alternative-fueled lawn mowers through a donation from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). Each of the six propane-fueled Exmark Lazer Z S-Series lawn mowers will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the Mall by 50 percent per mower.

PERC and Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC) celebrated the first use of the mowers on the Mall in addition to the park’s adoption of two electric cars and charging stations at a ribbon-cutting event. The combined deployment of alternative-fuel vehicles and mowers added NAMA to the list of national parks advancing the Green Parks Plan, a National Park Service initiative to reduce dependence on foreign oil, mitigate the effects of climate change, and conserve energy.

“We are always looking for ways to integrate sustainable practices into every part of our operation,” said Bob Vogel, National Mall and Memorial Park superintendent. “The electric cars and generous donation of propane mowers from PERC will help the National Mall meet its sustainability goals with a clean-burning, American-made fuel.”

The four 72-inch and two 60-inch Lazer Z S-Series propane-fueled zero-turn riders will comprise one-third of the Mall’s mower fleet and replace diesel-fueled mowers. NAMA is a first adopter of the Exmark model with Kohler Command Pro Propane EFI engine — a technology that was developed and commercialized through PERC funding. The Kohler power system increases fuel efficiency by 25 percent and delivers the lowest operating cost of any mower currently on the market.

In total, PERC’s donation amounts to approximately $70,000 in equipment.

“PERC is proud to play a vital role in greening one of our nation’s favorite places to gather,” said Roy Willis, PERC president and CEO. “Through PERC funding and support, Kohler and Exmark have created the greenest, most fuel-efficient mower on the market today. The National Mall is the first major adopter of this technology, and their commitment to clean-burning, American-made propane sets the standard for parks, municipalities, and landscape professionals across the country.”

Switching to propane mowers will lower carbon monoxide emissions by 80 percent compared with gasoline, reduce fuel spills, and save NAMA money on fuel and maintenance costs. A byproduct of domestic natural gas processing, the U.S. produces more than enough propane to meet current demand and became a net exporter of the fuel in 2011. The mowers will be refueled using a propane cylinder exchange system from Thompson Gas.

For more information on PERC or propane-fueled lawn mowers, visit autogasusa.org. For more information on the National Mall and Memorial Parks, visit www.nps.gov.