Environmentally Friendly Snow Removal: What Are Your Options?

Environmentally Friendly Snow Removal: What Are Your Options?

Most homeowners agree that keeping driveways and pathways on their property free of snow in the winter can be quite a job. Thankfully, there are all kinds of tools available to you to help you accomplish this task.

However, these options aren’t equal when it comes to their environmental impact. Would you like to be greener in this regard? Here’s what you need to know to make the best snow removal choice for your driveway :

The Good Old Shovel

Shovelling is, of course, the best method to use to do your part for the environment. Plus, this is a great way to get your blood pumping, muscles moving and fill your lungs with fresh air! But make sure you bend your knees and lift with your legs to avoid straining or injuring your back. Recycled shovels are the most eco-friendly. They are easy to identify as they are all black (it is impossible to tint recycled plastic). Nevertheless, you will still need a secondary snow-removal tool for bigger surface areas like parking lots, which would otherwise take several hours to completely clear by hand.

Do you want to avoid harmful CO2 emissions, but a health issue or physical injury means you can’t shovel? There is surely a teenager in your neighbourhood that would be happy to do it for you for a small fee.

 

The Gas-Powered Snowblower

This snow-removal machine consumes approximately 2 litres of gasoline per hour and emits a lot of CO2. Some studies have even shown that running a gas-powered snowblower for one hour generates as much pollution as driving a car for six hours. This is, then, not the best option if you want to be more environmentally friendly, but it’s still a better choice than hiring a snowplowing contractor.

 

A Professional Snow Removal Service

Indeed, snowplowing services are the worst way to go if you want to fight climate change. These heavily equipped vehicles consume more than 30 litres of gas per hour. Yet it cannot be denied that hiring this type of service is the most efficient and hassle-free way of having your driveway cleared. Once you’re accustomed to it, it’s difficult to switch back to clearing snow yourself!

The Electric Snowblower

A few years ago, electric snowblowers were not very powerful and could only really be used to remove snow from small surface areas. They are now quite effective, which is why they are increasingly popular. Not only are they more efficient, many models are also battery-powered and therefore cord-free.

This type of snowblower is a good choice if you want to reduce your carbon footprint and exercise regularly with no risk of injury. If your budget is limited, talk to your neighbours. Some might be interested in purchasing an electric snowblower as a group.

 

In summary: a shovel or an electric snowblower remain your greenest options!

Now that you are well informed, you just need to decide which tool corresponds the most to your physical restrictions, your financial means and your environmental values.

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.