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Once a snowstorm hits Quebec, the purr of snowblowers is heard. However, these oil-powered machines are little climate bombs. According to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, whose mission is to improve air quality in this western US state, using a gas-powered household blower for an hour generates as much pollution as driving. The car is 500 km!
A big problem, because 25% of Canadian families he said in 2019 that they used a snowblower, and in 91% of cases, it was a gas-powered model, according to the Census Canadian Household and Environment Survey.
The challenge is that the engine of these machines is not equipped with an effective anti-pollution system, unlike modern cars. Refers to pollution that not only contributes to global warming, but also poisons users with carbon monoxide and fine particles rich in PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Document 2021 from the French INRS.
Electric rotation
However, there is an alternative that is gaining popularity: the electric snow blower, with battery or corded models. Over time, they have increased in power and the use of lithium batteries, as in cars, has given them greater autonomy.
In Rona and Réno-Dépôt signage stores, electric snow blowers now make up more than 65% of the offer. “We’re increasing it year on year to meet consumer demand,” explains Mathieu Villemaire, director of marketing for Lowe’s Canada, which includes the Lowe’s, RONA and Réno-Dépôt brands.
Snow removal companies
But clearing snow requires good physical effort. For this reason, many owners prefer to deal with a snow removal company. However, the problem with snowplows is that most of the time they use heavy equipment, which consumes more than 30 liters of gasoline per hour.
Engineering Consulting Office LCL environment Estimate the environmental impact of this method of snow removal (see table below). The result in winter for a 2- to 4-seater car park: 120 kg CO2e2 in the Montreal area and 160 kg eq. co2 For the Quebec region, 120 cm more snow falls each winter.
Sources: carbon emissions; AVEQ; Hydro Quebec; questions and answers
One possibility to replace professional snow removers: Hire shoveling shoveling neighbors. Green advantage, and the opportunity to develop their financial independence.
Removable shelters
Car shelters, commonly referred to as “Tempo shelters,” are also a more environmentally friendly solution than any snow removal with gas-powered machines, because their steel and canvas construction last many years. According to Richard Boeckler, President and CEO, Inc Tempo SheltersLining easily lasts 10 to 15 years with proper maintenance and proper installation. As for the chassis, the age may outpace you.
However, the incorporation of recycled materials into polyethylene fabrics is still pending. Richard Boesclair would like to do better, but it’s a question of sustainability. “The lifespan of fabrics that incorporate recycled materials is much shorter, by 20 to 35%. The environmental advantage is not there yet,” he argues.
At the end of their lives, the fabrics end up in waste. Recyc-Québec maintains that there are no specific outlets for this material. However, Richard Boisclair asserts that they acquire a second life on construction sites, where they are in high demand, particularly to protect fresh concrete from bad weather.
Nothing is better than a bulldozer
The most environmentally friendly option remains hand shoveling. It is possible to further reduce the carbon footprint by shoveling with a recycled plastic snow tool. A study was conducted by the International Reference Center for Life Cycle Analysis and Sustainable Transition, or CIRAIG (not available online) in collaboration with Quebec gardening tool manufacturer Garant: it concluded that a shovel made from recycled plastic reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 9% Compared to scoops made from virgin material.
How do you recognize at a glance a shovel made from recycled plastic? It will be black or dark, because it’s impossible to give a bright color to recycled plastic, explains a representative for EraGroup, a Montreal snow shovels manufacturer.
– Simon DeWitt
Photo: Aftermath of the storm in Montreal, 2006/Moreal/Wikipedia Commons
