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The drone of a distant lawn mower is a sound we’ve come to associate with summer. But if you are the one pushing the mower—or if you’re a student trying to follow a discussion when the machine is running outside an open classroom window—the experience can be exasperating.

The campus is quieter than usual this summer because �պ�����’s grounds crews are integrating electric mowers into the equipment inventory.

The move to “mow electric” has been in the works for the past several years at �պ�����. One of the leaders is Niels Arentzen ’22 who graduated in May with a degree in finance from the Grossman School of Business. He ran his own lawn care business while attending Burlington High School and considered adopting commercial electric mowers and trimmers. But the upfront costs were too high for his small-scale operation.

“From my research I learned that newer electric mowers can really do the job without all the carbon outputs. Given �պ�����’s reputation for sustainability I thought we could make it happen here,” he said.

One of the first people he approached was Peggy O’Neill-Vivanco, coordinator for at �պ�����’s Transportation Research Center. In her work with Vermont Clean Cities, she brings together public and private stakeholders to implement alternative fuels, advanced fuel vehicles and transportation efficiencies. She points to a recent EPA study showing that a 24 horse-power commercial mower (like the ones �պ����� uses) running for an hour is equal to 88 cars driving at 55 miles per hour, or 4,840 vehicle miles traveled in terms of emissions. In contrast, operating a 60-inch commercial electric mower for 400 hours annually produces zero emissions, versus the nearly 8,000 lbs. of CO2 produced by a comparable conventional commercial mower.

But electric models cost more than the traditional gas-powered machines, and Arentzen knew he’d have to find a funding source for new equipment. That’s where �պ�����’s Sustainable Campus Fund (SCF) came in.

Changing the Landscape

SCF fields grant proposals aimed at improving campus sustainability and funds them through a $10 per semester student fee.

Arentzen and O’Neill-Vivanco collaborated on a 2020 pilot proposal to purchase  an electric ride-on mower and, with the collaboration of the �պ����� grounds department, measure its performance and carbon displacement. The proposal was accepted and �պ����� received a new 60-inch zero-turn electric ride-on lawn mower.

“There was a lot of support from students and faculty members—mostly I think because of the noise factor,” Arentzen said. “It’s tough to concentrate in classes with the sound level, and not just from mowers but from leaf blowers and gas-powered trimmers.”

The pandemic delayed the pilot’s rollout, but the mower was purchased and put into use at �պ����� during late summer 2021. Based on the encouraging results, �պ����� Grounds Manager Matt Walker is looking to replace more of his gas-guzzling equipment with electric models. He and O’Neill-Vivanco wrote a successful SCF follow-up proposal this spring to purchase three electric push mowers, six commercial electric leaf blowers and six electric trimmers.

They plan on setting up equipment demonstrations from 3-5 manufacturers. This will allow Walker’s crews to try out different models in real conditions and select the best models for �պ�����’s needs. In the meantime, Walker has purchased another electric ride-on mower from his own budget. He says the machines have been well received.

“They operate more like gas-powered models without the herky-jerky sensitivity of some of the earlier electrics. That’s been a big selling point for my crews.”

With the reduced exhaust fumes and noise—a gas powered leaf blower registers at 75 decibels even at 50 feet—crew members will also have a healthier work environment.

“I’ve had people using the electric mowers ask if they still need to wear ear protection,” said Walker. He said many workers like to play music while mowing to mask the roar of the gas-powered machines. “Lowering the volume of the mower could also encourage lowering the music volume. So it helps both ways.”

Walker anticipates that a greener equipment fleet will help his crews balance the often competing priorities of noise reduction and keeping lawn maintenance on schedule. 

Quiet Change

O’Neill-Vivanco says the new equipment achieves multiple goals. Besides decarbonizing a significant portion of landscaping tools and reducing fossil fuel use on campus, �պ����� will be in compliance with a recent city noise ordinance that prohibits gas-powered leaf blowers. The move also contributes to Burlington’s goal of becoming a by 2030.

�պ�����’s transition comes as public attitudes towards lawn maintenance,  driven by the urgency of global warming, are changing. A recent U.S. Department of Transportation study said Vermonters burn almost 5.5 million gallons of gas each year on lawn and garden care. Steven Wisbaum, founder of Champlain Valley Compost, became an evangelist for low-emissions lawn care several years ago and formed Mow Electric, a campaign devoted to help local citizens and institutions go electric.

Through the efforts of Wisbaum and O’Neill-Vivanco, all 17 Vermont utilities now offer incentives for locals to make the transition from gas-guzzlers to electric. has helped dozens of customers make the transition through rebates that lower the cost of electric mowers, blowers and trimmers. So far, �պ����� Building and Grounds has received rebates of $3500 per machine from Burlington Electric to help buy the pricier electric equipment.

Arentzen is no longer on campus but he is watching �պ�����’s progress with personal and professional interest. His experience at �պ����� led to an internship with Beta Technologies, a South Burlington aerospace company that is developing vertical take-off and landing electric aircraft. The company is considered a pioneer in the world of commercial electronic flight.

“Starting in July I’ll be working with a supply chain team at Beta and my �պ����� experience gives me a foot in the door for the new sustainability team they are putting together. I feel like work I did at �պ����� had a direct application to my new job.”