5.2 Educate the public about the link between air and water quality and choices to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions

Key Message: Public awareness is low regarding how air quality influences water quality. Educating the community about the connections between air pollution—especially from motor vehicles and lawn care equipment—and water quality can foster more sustainable choices and encourage support for clean alternatives and smart transportation planning.

Importance

Few people recognize that air quality directly affects water quality. Nitrogen compounds released by power plants and combustion engines return to Earth through rain and dust, contributing to nutrient pollution (see Chapter 5.1). Education on atmospheric deposition and actionable strategies—particularly those targeting local mobile emission sources—is essential to motivate change at the household and business level.

Reducing local emissions from vehicles and outdoor machinery may benefit local water quality more than curbing emissions from power plants (Poor et al., 2013b). Public health would also benefit, especially given the frequent use of gas-powered lawn equipment in neighborhoods, schools, and urban zones. Landscape maintenance workers are routinely exposed to high levels of toxic emissions. Better public understanding of the connections between air quality, water quality, health, and climate change may drive adoption of clean transportation, landscaping alternatives, and emission-reducing technologies. Nitrous oxide’s global warming potential is 298 times that of carbon dioxide. The Clean Air Coalition of the Sarasota-Manatee Region identifies vehicle miles traveled and emissions from gas-powered landscaping and fleet vehicles as priority areas for reduction (Sarasota County Government 2024).

Overview

Clean Vehicles

The U.S. vehicle fleet is becoming cleaner as electric vehicle (EV) adoption increases. Florida’s electric grid is powered primarily by natural gas (74%), with the rest coming from nuclear (12%) and coal (9%) (USDOE). Overall, this mix is cleaner than gasoline vehicle tailpipe emissions. Florida ranks second to California in EV registrations, with over 250,000 EVs reported in 2023—a tenfold increase since 2018 (USDOE). Sarasota County had over 31,000 EVs in 2018, about 9% of registered vehicles (FLHSMV).
As of 2025, less than 10% of Sarasota County Government’s fleet is electric or hybrid, but that percentage is expected to grow. The county operates 10 EV charging stations for government use and had previously offered 38 public ports at 15 sites. With private charging infrastructure growing, public station demand has declined.

Local governments are expanding transit options. Sarasota County’s Breeze Transit runs trolleys connecting SRQ Airport, downtown, and Siesta Key. Manatee County operates the Gulf Islands Ferry linking Bradenton and Anna Maria Island.

The City of Sarasota has set a goal for 90% of new city vehicle purchases to be electric by mid-2024, although progress has been modest. In 2022, it launched the Veo e-scooter and bike-sharing program, offering 350–400 scooters and 50–75 bicycles.

UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County supports EV adoption through education and programs like ChargeUP!, which offers rebates to businesses and non-profits for charging station installations. Outreach covers emissions benefits, economic savings, and purchasing tools. Key adoption barriers remain: upfront vehicle costs, range anxiety, and confusion about tailpipe versus power plant emissions.

Alternative transportation options are also improving across the region. Venice is recognized as a Silver Bicycle Friendly Community, and the City continues to implement bike-friendly policies and infrastructure upgrades. The Legacy Trail—a regional, multi-use path—now connects Venice to downtown Sarasota and continues to expand with additional spurs, overpasses, and amenities to support commuters and recreational users.

The City of Sarasota Transportation Master Plan (2020) emphasizes safe, equitable, and sustainable mobility options, integrating green infrastructure and transit-oriented development. Meanwhile, the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is updating its Long-Range Transportation Plan with an enhanced focus on multimodal access, including pedestrian safety, bike networks, and public transit improvements to meet regional goals for emissions reductions and livability.

Clean Outdoor Equipment and Vessels

EPA emission standards have cut hydrocarbon and NOx emissions from outdoor equipment by 35% and small boats by 60% (EPA 2008), yet these tools still emit more pollution than cars (Figure 5.2.1). A 30 cc gas-powered leaf blower emits six times more NOx and 36 times more non-methane hydrocarbons than a Ford F-150. Thirty minutes of blower use equals the NOx emissions of driving an F-150 68 miles (Kavanagh 2011). A commercial mower emits as much as driving a Camry 300 miles (CARB 2019). Florida leads the nation in per capita emissions from lawn equipment (Banks and McConnell, 2015). With 25,000 registered watercraft in Sarasota County (FHSMV), electrifying vessels would benefit water quality.

Despite growth in electric vehicles, adoption of electric outdoor equipment lags. More than 100 manufacturers produce electric boats and motors, with recreational craft leading the way. The market also offers over 50 electric mower models, including commercial options. Electric tools have comparable life-cycle costs, but higher purchase prices and limited runtime remain obstacles.

Green Industries Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) training—required for commercial landscapers—does not yet address nitrogen emissions from lawn equipment. Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) guidelines recommend reducing turfgrass, which indirectly lowers emissions, but few materials emphasize this benefit. A new educational rack card now highlights how electric landscaping tools reduce pollution, and it’s being distributed by local governments and nonprofits.

In March 2024, Sarasota County Public Works launched a fully electric landscaping fleet, including mowers, blowers, edgers, and a utility vehicle—all transportable and chargeable via a standard trailer. The fleet has since been adopted by the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Division. Fleet expansion is supported by Inflation Reduction Act incentives.

Approach

Local EV programs—featuring classes, events, rebates, and educational resources—can help increase EV use. Cost-benefit analyses of emission reductions should consider local power supply characteristics. Programs like Drive Electric Orlando, which rewards EV rental customers with perks (e.g., free charging, parking), could be adapted for local visitors. Similar incentives could extend to boat rentals and boat-sharing clubs.

Incentives for walking, biking, and ridesharing—paired with safe infrastructure and zoning for walkable neighborhoods—can also reduce emissions.

To close data gaps, emissions from landscaping equipment should be included in greenhouse gas inventories. GI-BMP certification should be updated to include the impacts of nitrogen emissions from equipment. Retail incentives, like trial periods or trade-in programs, could encourage landscapers and homeowners to adopt electric tools. One model is the “Mow Down Air Pollution” campaign in Sacramento (CARB 2004). Continued promotion of FFL practices that reduce turfgrass can also reduce the need for equipment use.

Education and outreach that connect clean equipment to benefits in water quality, health, and climate can build broader support. A “Spare the Air” campaign could discourage gas-powered tool use near schools, hospitals, and parks. A phased approach might begin with a five-year plan to eliminate gas-powered landscaping equipment in these areas.

Facilitating homeowners in target neighborhoods to install low-cost outdoor air quality monitors could generate greater public awareness of the impact of gas-powered vehicle and equipment emissions on localized ground-level air pollution. These sensors measure pollutants such as particulate matter and can be configured to share real-time data on public platforms (such as IQAir). This enables homeowners to track neighborhood air quality and potentially contribute to broader, community-wide monitoring efforts.

Resources

• City of Sarasota GHG Inventory
• Sarasota County GHG Inventory
• Sarasota County Electric Vehicle Charging Station Rebate Program

Status

Implementation – UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, City of Sarasota

Performance Measure

• Inclusion of lawn equipment emissions in GI-BMP and FFL education
• Increase in electric vehicle and charger adoption
• Number of organizations installing charging stations
• Growth in non-gas-powered landscaping equipment purchases
• Pre/post survey data on air–water quality awareness

Experts or Leads

Sara Kane, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County; Don Rainey, UF/IFAS Southwest Extension District; Michael D’Imperio, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County; Megan Barry, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program; Alvimarie Corales, City of Sarasota; Corinne Arriaga, City of Sarasota; Alia Garrett, City of Sarasota; Darlene Culpepper, City of Venice

Cost Estimate

$50,000-$100,000

Related Activities

Chapter 5.1