The leaf blower parable | Seth’s Weblog

It’s autumn in North America, and that implies that householders and contractors are busy eradicating suburban leaves. It’s nearly unattainable to keep away from the deafening roar of gas-powered leaf blowers.

Right here’s what we all know, no doubt:

• Utilizing a leaf blower is dangerous for the listening to and respiration of the person, typically a low-paid employee with no actual choices.
• They’re annoyingly loud, and may be heard from blocks away.
• There are a lot quieter, safer and cleaner options, simply obtainable. In the long term, they’re additionally cheaper.

We additionally know that:

• In a single hour, a gas-powered leaf blower will emit as a lot carbon dioxide equal as driving a typical inside combustion engine automobile 3,000 miles. (That’s not a typo). The main points are right here.
• The aggressive nature of commodity backyard care pushes gardeners to decide on the quickest, most cost-effective possibility, whatever the prices to the employees, the neighborhood or the local weather.
• The expertise to interchange gasoline leaf blowers is confirmed, cheap and available. And but… They’re nonetheless right here. And the reason being that they’re handy, a sunk value and a short-term revenue hack.

The answer, if we’re critical, is to ban gasoline leaf blowers. The replacements pays for themselves in just a few weeks. As soon as the aggressive enjoying discipline is re-set, gardeners will come out forward. Worker well-being will improve, and the leaves will nonetheless get blown.

So what’s the issue?

We’re not critical sufficient about making change occur. If we cared sufficient to get two dozen mates and neighbors to point out up on the village corridor, the rules may very well be modified in just a few conferences.

However typically it’s simpler to do nothing.