901: Lawns | Skeptical Sunday

Water Usage

Lawns consume an astonishing amount of water, competing directly with essential crops. Michael Regilio highlights that in coastal California, each square foot of lawn requires 28 gallons of water annually, increasing to 37 gallons further inland 1. This excessive water usage is particularly concerning in arid regions like the Southwest, where homeowners use more water on lawns than all other uses combined 1. Jordan Harbinger notes that Americans use 20 trillion gallons of water annually on lawns, enough to fill 5 million Olympic swimming pools 2.

Lawns are directly competing with our food for water. Lawns might feel nice between your toes, but I'm not sure this justifies using all that water.

--- Michael Regilio

The Lawn Institute argues that lawns reduce erosion, but the environmental cost remains high 1.

   

Lawn Pollution

Lawn care equipment significantly contributes to pollution. Gas-powered lawn mowers produce eleven times more emissions per hour than the average new car 3. Jordan Harbinger finds it astonishing that running a leaf blower for ten minutes produces as much exhaust as driving a large pickup truck for 235 miles 3. Additionally, the noise pollution from leaf blowers can exceed safe decibel levels, causing hearing loss and cardiovascular issues 4.

The World Health Organization recommends people not expose themselves to noises above 70 decibels, because over time, that level of prolonged noise can cause hearing loss, high blood pressure, and even cardiovascular disease.

--- Michael Regilio

The fossil fuels used in lawn care also result in significant gasoline spills, further harming the environment 4.

   

Biodiversity Loss

Lawns contribute to biodiversity loss by replacing native plants with non-indigenous grasses. Michael Regilio explains that most grasses used for lawns, like Kentucky bluegrass, are not native to the U.S. and require extensive artificial care 5. This monoculture approach destroys natural habitats and reduces biodiversity, which is crucial for ecological balance 5.

Without a rich panoply of native plants, the all-important pollinators, like bees, die off. And when the pollinators die off, lots of stuff dies off.

--- Michael Regilio

The loss of biodiversity due to lawns contributes to larger environmental issues, including the decline of pollinators like bees 5.