The Home Depot Eyes Growth of Battery-Powered Outdoor Equipment

The Home Depot is looking to convert a majority of the gas-powered outdoor power equipment it now sells in the U.S and Canada to battery-powered products by the end of its 2028 fiscal year.

According to officials with the home improvement retailer, the five year goal is to have 85% of the push lawn mowers, leaf blowers and trimmers to run on rechargeable battery technology instead of gas. This transition will reduce more than 2 million metric tons of greenhouse gases annually from exhaust pipes of residential lawn equipment, the retailer said.

"By innovating residential lawn equipment away from gas powered combustible engines, we can help make our neighborhoods cleaner and quieter," said Ron Jarvis, chief sustainability officer for The Home Depot. "By working with our suppliers to bring innovative and sustainable products to every aisle of our store, we can help our customers create more sustainable homes and workplaces." 

To reach this goal, The Home Depot will work to offer cordless outdoor power tools from market leading brands such as Ryobi, the retailer’s exclusive brands, along with products from other brands such as Milwaukee, Makita, and DeWalt and more. 

The retailer said its greatest environmental impact comes from the products it sells, and the biggest opportunity to create change is providing customers with product selections that reduce their carbon impact. 

According to industry data, using a gas-powered lawn mower for one hour creates as much air pollution as driving 300 miles in an average car. Running a gas leaf blower for an hour creates the same level of emissions as a 1,100-mile drive or driving from Los Angeles to Denver.