The city's initiatives have been to reduce the use of gas blowers throughout our city. In 2019, the city hired a national consultant to evaluate our use of gas blowers versus the possibility of transitioning to battery-powered blowers. The amount of gas and noise pollution was eye-opening, and while initial costs of purchase of battery equipment was significantly higher, the costs over the life of the equipment was similar. With battery, you have very little maintenance and obviously, no pollution and minimal noise.
We were successful in transitioning both Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments to battery power in all but the most adverse weather conditions, and now have significantly reduced the noise pollution around our villages and parks.
As a result of this, Mountain Brook became the first American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) certified city in Alabama in 2021. We are the leader and intend to stay that way. In January, we held an event to further raise awareness of quiet technologies and brought in state-of-the-art blower equipment developed by Whisper Aero, a company out of Nashville who works in drone technology for the Department of Defense. Their blower uses fresh technology to deliver quieter, more powerful equipment that they expect to have in production in 2026. One attendee, Jennifer Thomas, owner of Meta’s Garden Landscaping, expressed her excitement about the innovation: “I was impressed with this unique application of aero technology to benefit our industry and community. Being able to move forward with equipment that is affordable, quiet, and powerful is a win for everyone.”
A number of local landscape companies joined the demonstration event including Steven’s Wack-N-Sack. Owner, Steven Gladstone, brought his ‘eco-friendly’ all-battery-equipment truck with solar-recharging roof panels and highlighted the benefits of switching to electric tools, including reduced noise, pollution, and user fatigue, along with lower maintenance costs and improved working conditions. “It’s a game-changer,” Steven stated, emphasizing the “lighter tools and absence of gas fumes.”
Local commercial vendor, Green Landscaping, also attending and has agreed to be a ‘beta-tester’ for transitioning a truck to ‘green’ technology in coordination with the city’s consultant at AGZA. Greenworks (no relation to Green Landscaping) out of Tennessee, will supply the equipment and prep the truck. The goal is proof-of-concept…showing the effectiveness, efficiency, business worthiness of battery versus gas blowers and equipment.