For Virginia Property Owners and Managers
BCLS Snow and Ice Management of Central Virgina
Once the first big snowstorm hits at the start of winter, removing the snow and ice left behind is on many minds. Snow removal is a $2 billion industry in the U.S., and the highly effective and common chemical deicers and gas-guzzling snow blowers are not eco-friendly. Chemical deicers on driveways, roads, and airport runways can be hazardous to plants, animals, the water supply, and therefore the environment. The average gas-powered snow blower creates about one pound of carbon monoxide emissions per hour, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It also uses about one gallon of gas a year according to Consumer Reports.
Fortunately, individuals, communities, municipalities, and airports can make a difference by opting for more environmental ways of removing snow and ice. Here are six ideas for dealing with Mother Nature’s winter wrath without harming Mother Earth.
Scatter eco-friendly ice melt substances instead of harmful rock salt. Look for ice melts that combine corrosion inhibitors like Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) or Ice-Ban with salt to make it gentler. It is also more effective. Find a list of the best eco-friendly deicers from the EPA’s “Design for the Environment”. Follow the instructions for how much deicer to apply and avoid reducing its effectiveness and leaving a slippery brine on the ground.
Use battery, electric, or hybrid-powered snow blowers instead of gasoline-powered tools. Only use blowers for large areas that need to be cleared of snow, not just the walkway to your front door, which is easily shoveled. Although electric products consume energy, they do not consume gas or emit greenhouse gases.
If you must use a gas-powered snow blower for extremely large areas or spaces making electric tools impossible, use the most efficient gas-powered kind. A two-stage, four-stroke engine will operate far more efficiently and with fewer emissions than a single-stage, two-stroke engine. Invest in a better blower with a neighbor and share it so you can both use an eco-friendly machine. Save unused gasoline from the blower at the end of the year by adding a gas stabilizer instead of wastefully burning it off by running the engine.
Go old school and use snow shovels, ice crackers, and brooms to clear snow from your sidewalks, porches, and driveways. Ergonomic shovels can make the task less back-breaking, or hire the kid down the street to help. Shoveling early and often will also make the job easier.
Find an eco-friendly snow removal service in your area or request your current service use environmentally safe products.
Avoid birdseed, clean clay cat litter, sand, or fireplace ash on walkways and driveways for traction. These substances can be harmful to vegetation and waterways and messy when the snow melts. Use these sparingly and only on the surface of the snow to add traction. Note that these substances will not melt ice or snow.
While everyone wants a snow free environment, we must know the expense on our environment. Let’s work together to make our world not only a safer place, but a more friendly one as well.
Need more information on our eco-friendly snow services?
Request your free consultation now. BCLS Snow and Ice Management serves all of Central Virginia.