Mow Down Pollution Program
Emissions from lawn and garden equipment are a major contributor to ozone pollution within the Denver Metro and Front Range. By electrifying lawn and garden equipment, the Regional Air Quality Council is improving air quality, reducing noise pollution, and removing financial barriers to purchasing cleaner alternatives, leading to healthier environments and communities.
The Problem
Gas-powered lawn mowers and other lawn equipment emit greenhouse gases and contribute to ground-level ozone pollution in Colorado's Front Range. By switching to an electric mower, you can make a positive impact on our air quality and human health.
The Program
The Regional Air Quality Council has launched the Mow Down Pollution program as part of our efforts to mitigate ground-level ozone and enhance air quality. This initiative offers vouchers and grants to support individuals and organizations who opt to recycle their gas-powered lawn equipment and replace it with rechargeable or corded electric-powered alternatives.
Residential Program Status:
Exchange events are on a rolling basis as funding is available. Please check our Residential Mower Exchange Events page for the latest information.
Commercial Landscaper Program Status:
OPEN: As of March 1, 2026 – the program is now open! Please check our Commercial Fleet Grants page for details.
Government Entity Program Status:
Closed: Seeking additional funding
Why You Should Switch to Electric
Cleaner Air
Reduces pollutants from gas-powered equipment that lead to ground-level ozone
Lawn Equipment and its Impact on Air Quality
Ozone high up in the atmosphere protects us from harmful UV radiation. Ozone found at the ground level, however, is very harmful to our health and the environment. Ground-level ozone forms when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mix with heat from the sun, and is most frequent on especially hot, summer days. While it is an invisible and odorless pollutant, ground level ozone can have serious impacts on your health, causing irritations to the lungs and respiratory system. Children, older adults, and people with asthma are at increased risk for acute and long-term ozone exposure.
Emissions from lawn and garden equipment including lawn mowers, leaf blowers, string trimmers, and chainsaws, are significant, because this smaller equipment uses a two-stroke engine. These two-stroke engines lack the emission controls that we typically see in cars, causing the equipment to combine gasoline and oil that either burns in the engine or escapes in the exhaust as aerosol droplets. When this fuel is burned, the equipment releases not only ozone-forming pollutants NOx and VOCs, but also other harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide and fine particulates (PM2.5).
Research shows that operating a lawn mower for one hour emits as much ozone-forming emissions as driving a light-duty passenger car about 300 miles. Even worse, operating a leaf blower for one hour is equivalent to driving 1,110 miles -- that's the equivalent of driving from Denver to Los Angeles!