Clean Green Yard Machines Performance Report for 2009 Lawn Mower Trade-In Program By the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District January 2010 Clean Green Yard Machines 2009 (CGYM), part of the Air District s Healthy Air Living initiative, began on April 22. CGYM 2009 was originally scheduled to expire on May 31 however; a slow economy provided the opportunity for an extension. The Air District continued to keep CGYM open until all funds are exhausted with the possibility of transforming this into a year-round program, provided funding continues to be available. As of January 1, 2010, CGYM funding from the 2009-year program has not yet been exhausted and the program remains active. This report includes the following: History of Clean Green Yard Machines How the Program works Total program budget for the year Total vouchers issued in 2009 Total vouchers redeemed/mowers retired/mowers sold Previous years total mowers sold Rundown of all outreach efforts to promote program History of Clean Green Yard Machines CGYM has evolved and improved every year since it began in 2001. The Air District has previously held one-day trade-in events, where residents came from neighboring counties within the Air Basin to turn in their older gas mowers in favor of a great deal on a new electric mowers as well as offering straight discounts for various non-polluting mowers from hardware stores. Previous years programs have included partners such as Orchard Supply Hardware, Home Depot, Black and Decker, American Lawn Mower Company and recycling companies throughout the Valley. In 2006 the Air District contracted with the Neuton Lawn Mower Company to hold a lawn mower trade-in program and has maintained a partnership with this company due to their excellent customer service and ingenuity. Neuton has offered better value and innovative methods every year, to help Make CGYM easier to manage while increasing accessibility to the residents of the Valley thus, improving air quality with clean-operating cordless electric mowers. How the Program works During the planning stages of the 2007 program, Neuton asked if there was any way to conduct a trade-in promotion that would allow them to conduct business in their usual manner, direct mail order rather than holding single day events in the Valley.
Through research as to how to hold a trade-in program without holding one-day events, the Air District discovered that recycling agencies in every Valley county were willing to accept retired gas mowers directly and issue verification to the participant, allowing them to order their new mower by phone. The Air District devised a program allowing residents to call, requesting participation in the program. The air District sends the caller a program voucher with instructions to turn in their old mower at a participating local recycler, have the recycler verify with a special code sticker affixed to the voucher and call Neuton directly to order to their new mower at a discount of more than 50 percent. Upon payment, Neuton delivers the mower directly to the resident s home. Through the 2009 program, residents have the choice of a purchasing a 14-inch cordless Neuton mower (CE5) for $150 (regularly $399), or a 19-inch cordless electric mower (CE6) for $250 (regularly $499). Neuton offered the Air District the CE5 for $285. The participating Valley resident pays $150 and the Air District pays $135. The CE6 was offered at $100 more. Program Budget Funding Amount District $ 113,750 PG&E $ 20,000 Valley CAN $ 10,000 Merced County $ 5,000 Tulare County $ 5,000 Turlock Irrigation District $ 1,000 City of Ceres $ 500 Total $ 155,250 The total number of mowers replaced during the 2009 program is shown in the two charts below. Orders by County thru 12/3/09 Fresno 175 Kern 65 Kings 13 Madera 19 Mariposa 2 Merced 43 San Joaquin 103 Stanislaus 123 Tulare 82 Total 625 Orders thru 12/3/09 CE 5 262 CE 6 363 Total 625 To date, the District has issued a total of 1515 program vouchers. A total of 625 vouchers have actually been redeemed, bringing the total expenditure for mowers sold to $84,375. Annual Program Totals to date Below is a summary of the total number of non-polluting lawn mowers sold through CGYM each year and the annual emissions reductions from gas to electric. Note: Emissions from one gas-powered lawn mower is equivalent to 40 newer cars. The average gas mower produces 5.6 pounds of nitrogen oxides (NOx) per year.
Year Number of mowers sold Nitrogen oxide emissions reduced Emission reductions compared to number of passenger vehicles 2001 1,185 6,636 pounds of NOx Equal to 47,400 cars 2002 1,138 6,372.8 pounds of NOx Equal to 45,520 cars 2004 327 1,831.2 pounds of NOx Equal to 13,080 cars 2005 595 3,332 pounds of NOx Equal to 23,800 cars 2006 787 4,407.2 pounds of NOx Equal to 31,480 cars 2007 912 5,107.2 pounds of NOx Equal to 36,480 cars 2008 866 4,849.6 pounds of NOx Equal to 34,640 cars 2009 625 3,500 pounds of NOx Equal to 25,000 cars Total 6435 18.018 tons of NOx Equal to 257,400 cars Clean Green Yard Machines 2009 is still open. The District is actively pursuing more funding to keep the program active on an ongoing basis. Outreach for Clean Green Yard Machines in 2009 is shown below in its entirety. Clean Green Yard Machines 2009 outreach summary Total spent on print: $18,008.17 Total number of print ads run: 22 Total spent on radio: $3,102 Total number of 15-second spots: 197 Total budget: $22,320 PROJECT: Production - Print VAD 33445 Fresno Bee Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/22 $1,292.89 VAD 33500 Stockton Record Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/22 $152.57 VAD 33501 Modesto Bee Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/21 $65.39 VAD 33502 Merced Sun Star Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/21 $43.59 VAD 33503 Madera Tribune Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/27 $0.00 VAD 33504 Hanford Sentinel Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/21 $0.00 VAD 33505 Visalia Times Delta Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/21 $87.18 VAD 33506 Bakersfield Californian Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/22 $21.80 VAD 33523 Visalia Times Delta Web Banner "CGYM 2009" 4/21 $120.00 VAD 33508 El Popular Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/27 $65.39 VAD 33507 Vida Strip Ad "CGYM 2009" 4/27 $523.08 PROJECT: Print Schedule - "April" Bakersfield Californian (4/22, match date 4/29) $1,338.86 Fresno Bee: Display (4/22, match date 4/29) $2,000.00 Hanford Sentinel (4/22, match date 4/29) $816.48 Madera Tribune (4/22, match date 4/29) $352.00
Merced Sun Star (4/22, match date 4/29) $411.76 Modesto Bee (4/22, match date 4/29) $1,764.76 Stockton Record (4/22, match date 4/28) $3,597.40 Visalia Times Delta (4/22, match dates 4/23,4/24,4/25) $1,355.00 El Popular (4/24,match date 5/1) $800.02 Vida - San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno (4/29, match date 5/6) $3,200.00 SUBTOTAL PRINT: $18,008.17 PROJECT: Production - 1X:15 Radio English and Spanish $100.00 PROJECT: Radio Schedule - "CGYM-Modesto" No. of Spots 219-49068 KJSN $838.00 17 219-49067 KMRQ $458.00 22 219-49069 KOSO $412.00 16 PROJECT: Radio Schedule - "CGYM-Fresno" 052-105933 KBOS $206.00 20 052-105937 KHGE $200.00 48 94713 KLBN $198.00 22 97673 KMGV $370.00 28 97672 KSKS $420.00 24 SUBTOTAL RADIO $3,102.00 197 Project Management/PR $1,210.00 TOTAL BUDGET $22,320.17 This ad ran in the Fresno Bee, Madera Tribune and Hanford Sentinel. This ad ran in the Modesto Bee, Stockton Record, Merced Sun-Star.
This ad ran the Spanish newspapers El Popular and Vida En El Valle. This ad ran the Bakersfield Californian and Visalia Times Delta. Run dates for these newspaper ads are shown above. The following flyers were used on the Air District s website and distributed at all major events that the District either attended or hosted. These events (totaling at least 20) included Earth Days, Asthma Health Fairs, air quality Chats and Healthy Air Living Business Summits throughout the Valley.
The District sent a press release on the program to all Valley media, as seen below: News Release For immediate release April 21, 2009 Attn: City, business and assignment editors Central region Jaime Holt (559) 230-5850 Northern Region Anthony Presto (209) 557-6472 Southern region Brenda Turner (661) 392-5581 Spanish-language contact Claudia Encinas (559) 230-5851 Air District kicks off Clean Green Yard Machines 2009 Annual mower trade-in program offers two choices Beginning Earth Day, April 22, San Joaquin Valley residents can replace their old, gasoline-powered lawnmowers with nonpolluting, electric mowers by participating in one of the Valley Air District s most popular annual incentive programs. Clean Green Yard Machines, part of the Healthy Air Living initiative, offers up to 62 percent off the purchase of cordless electric mowers in order to reduce air pollution caused by gas-burning lawn-care equipment. One gas mower can pollute as much as 40 newer-model cars and is one of the biggest polluters used at home. This year, the trade-in program offers a choice of two different mowers with the retirement of a gas mower: The Neuton CE5 14-inch mower for just $150, or the CE6 19-inch mower for just $250. Vouchers will be distributed until May 31, while supplies last. The District s Healthy Air Living Initiative asks Valley residents to make air quality a priority in their daily decisions. Clean Green Yard Machines provides an incentive to help make such a decision, said Seyed Sadredin, air pollution control officer and executive director. After receiving a voucher, participants have until May 31 to turn in their old, gas-powered mower (drained of all fluids) at a participating recycler and order a Neuton mower by phone at a huge discount. Neuton will deliver new mowers directly to participants homes. The regular price of a Neuton CE5 cordless electric mower is $399. The Air District offers the mower at a 62 percent discount. The Neuton CE6 cordless electric mower is regularly priced at $499. The Air District offers this mower at a 50 percent discount. Both are mulching mowers with a rear bag and rechargeable battery. The Air District thanks the following partners and sponsors for making this event possible: The Neuton Lawn Mower Company, Pacific Gas and & Electric, Valley Clean Air Now, The County of Merced, The County of Tulare, Turlock Irrigation District, City of Ceres, Atwater Iron and Metal, Golden State Metals of Bakersfield, J&H Metals of Hanford, Levi s Iron and Metal of Fresno, Madera County Resource Management, Modesto Junk Company, Stockton Recycling Center and Tulare County Recycling. For more information on Clean Green Yard Machines, visit www.valleyair.org or call the nearest District
office: in Modesto (209-557-6400); in Fresno, (559-230-6000); or in Bakersfield, (661-392-5500). For information about Neuton mowers, visit www.neutonpower.com/sjv. The Air District will NOT accept calls to register participants until the program s beginning date of April 22, 2009. The Valley Air District covers eight counties including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and San Joaquin Valley air basin portions of Kern. --- 30 --- Also included in this promotion are many newspaper articles and television news stories, as seen below. From the website of KFSN TV, Fresno, Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Incentive program retires polluting mowers As part of the Healthy Air Living Program, the Air District offers a huge discount on cordless electric mowers in an effort to reduce air pollution caused by gasoline-powered lawn equipment. Beginning today (Tuesday, April 22, 2008), San Joaquin Valley residents are invited to participate by requesting a voucher to turn in their old gasoline-powered mower and replace it with a non-polluting Neuton mower for only $150. Clean Green Yard Machines 2008 will expire on May 31 or until 1,100 mowers have been replaced. The Air District conducts the annual incentive program to raise public awareness of the pollution caused by gas mowers and to actively reduce such emissions. One gas mower can pollute as much as 40 cars. The District s Healthy Air Living Program asks residents of the Valley to make air quality a priority in their daily decision making. Clean Green Yard Machines helps them carry out one of those decisions and remove one of the biggest polluters at home, the gas-powered lawn mower, said Seyed Sadredin, Air Pollution Control Officer, and Air District Executive Director. In 2007, The District embarked on a new and very successful lawn mower trade-in program when it partnered with the Neuton Lawn Mower Company to replace one-day trade-in events in favor of a direct-mail delivery program. Residents living anywhere within the San Joaquin Valley Air District can request a program voucher. Upon receipt of the voucher, the resident has until May 31 to turn in their old mower (drained of all
fluids) at a participating recycler within their county, then order the new, non-polluting mower by phone at a 62 percent discount off the regular retail price of $399. The Neuton cordless, electric mower is then quickly delivered right to their home. The Air District thanks the following partners and sponsors for making this event possible: The Neuton Lawn Mower Company, Pacific Gas & Electric, Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County, Merced County, Tulare County, Valley Clean Air Now, Atwater Iron and Metal, Golden State Metals of Bakersfield, J&H Metals of Hanford, Levi s Iron and Metal of Fresno, Madera County Resource Management, Modesto Junk Company, Stockton Recycling Center and Tulare County Recycling. The San Joaquin Valley air basin is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a nonattainment area for the national eight-hour ozone standard and must reduce ozone pollution within the District s eight counties: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and San Joaquin Valley portions of Kern. For more information on Clean Green Yard Machines, contact any of the District representatives listed below or e-mail: public.education@valleyair.org. http://www.valleyair.org/newsed/general%20cgym%20web%20ad.pdf North District Media Contact - Modesto Anthony Presto (209) 557-6400 Central District Media Contact - Fresno Maricela Velasquez (559) 230-6000 South District Media Contact - Bakersfield Brenda Turner (661) 326-6900 Spanish-language Media Contact Claudia Encinas Trade gas mowers for electric models Stockton Record, Wednesday, April 22, 2009 The San Joaquin Valley Air District is beginning its popular mower trade-in program today. One gas mower can pollute as much as 40 newer model cars and is one of the biggest polluters used at home. People can trade them in for a 14- or 19-inch Neuton electric mower. Mowers will be made available at a discount for people retiring gas-burning lawn care equipment. Vouchers for discounts on the electric lawn mowers are available while supplies last through May 31. After receiving a voucher, participants have until May 31 to turn in their old gas-powered equipment (drained of all fluids) at a participating recycler and order a Neuton mower by phone. People will receive up to 62 percent off the cost of the electric mowers. For more information, visit www.valleyair.org (click "programs" on the left and look for "clean green yard machine") or call the district office in Modesto at (209) 557-6400. Valley air district starts lawn mower-swap program Regulators will replace gas-powered machines with electric ones By Brett Wilkison, Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register, Wednesday, April 22, 2009 The sound of a gas lawn mower humming along may be associated with spring and summer, but it has dirty consequences for Valley air. Starting today Earth Day regulators are looking to reduce that effect by firing up a program to replace more than 1,000 gas-powered mowers in the region with cleaner electric mowers. The program offers Valley residents discounts of 50 percent to 62 percent on a purchase of one of two kinds of cordless electric mowers.
In exchange, residents will turn in their old gas mowers at a local recycling center. The result will be dollars saved at the cash register and pollutants removed from the air, said Anthony Presto, spokesman for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, which started the program in 2001. The program is sponsored by more than a dozen local governments and companies, including Tulare County. One older-model gas mower can produce the same amount of harmful emissions, including nitrogen oxide, as 40 new-model cars over the same run-time, Presto said. Replacing 1,000 mowers the district's target this year with electric-powered machines will remove almost 6,000 pounds of those pollutants from the air annually, he said. This year, those making the switch will have a choice of two Neutron cordless electric mowers: The 14-inch CE5, offered at $150 (down from $299). The 19-inch CE6, priced half-off at $250. Supply is limited, Presto said. Starting today, those interested are encouraged to call the air district to request their voucher. Until the end of May, Tulare County customers may take that voucher with their old mower to Tulare County Recycling, the only center participating in the program in the county. Staff there will provide information, including a phone number to be used in purchasing the new mower, which Neutron will deliver to buyers' homes. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District begins its Clean Green Yard Machines program Bakersfield Californian, Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Wednesday to encourage the replacement of gasoline-powered lawnmowers with a cordless electric mower. The district offers vouchers good for up to 62 percent of the purchase of an electric mower. This year, participants have a choice between the Neuton CE5, 14-inch mower for $150 with the voucher, or the CE6, 19-inch mower for $250 with the voucher. Vouchers will be distributed until May 31.More information on the program: www.valleyair.org or call 392-5500. More information on Neutonmowers: www.neutonpower.com/sjv. Fresno Bee Smog Blog, Wed., April 22, 2009: Green yard machine time again By Mark Grossi It's Clean Green Yard Machines time again. You can trade your old gasoline lawnmower for a voucher to reduce the cost of a new, cordless electric lawnmower. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District program is scheduled to continue through May 31 oruntil supplies run out. Usually, these vouchers go very quickly, so make your move today. The vouchers trim up to 60% off the cost. There are two types of mower, a smaller one costing $399 anda larger one for $499. The smaller, 14-inch can be purchased for $150, and the larger, 19-inch for $250. For more information, visit the district's website or call the nearest district office: in Modesto (209-557-6400); in Fresno, (559-230-6000); or in Bakersfield, (661-392-5500).