The Department of Parks and Recreation, announced a public-private partnership with Greenow to install a robotic mower to manage the Town Hall lawn starting September 1.
First Selectman, Fred Camillo will cut the ribbon at a ceremony in front of Town Hall on September 21 at 12:00 noon to welcome the new technology in lawn care and set the path for the emission free future.
The event is sponsored by: Conservation Commission, Parks and Recreation, Quiet Yards Greenwich, Tree Conservancy, Sustainability Committee, and Pollinator Pathway.
Although often overlooked, small-motor, gasoline-powered lawn equipment is a significant contributor to climate change. According to the EPA, off-road gasoline-powered equipment, such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers, emit approximately 242 million tons of pollutants annually, degrading air quality. The American Lung Association has put Fairfield County on its “most polluted list” for unhealthy levels of air pollution.
“Tackling the climate crisis requires solutions at every level of government. We are happy to be partnering with the Town of Greenwich to explore low-impact cutting edge technologies in the management of its property,” said Erik Horn, founder of Greenow.
Horn, who hails from Norway, was eager to introduce smarter and greener lawn technology that is already widely used in Scandinavia.
“We are eagerly exploring ways to improve the sustainability of our land management practices and welcome the addition of robotic lawn mowing as a low-noise, zero emission addition,” said Dr. Gregory Kramer, Superintendent of Parks and Trees and Tree Warden.
Robotic mowers offer environmental benefits as they don’t produce any direct emissions like traditional gas-powered small engines and consume low energy.
The mowers are also quieter and boost lawn health. They cut fine clippings blanketing the ground conserving moisture, building soil and feeding microbial communities. The one recently employed to tend the lawn in the front of the Town Hall uses a remotely controlled housing to recharge after a busy day. No human interference is needed.
The mower is easy to control and tracked via a smartphone.