🌐 Robots make the cut, the low-carbon future of lawn care.

THIS WEEK IN SUPERCOOL

On Supercool this week, we visit Martha's Vineyard, only to discover it's ground zero for the robotic future. A silent revolution is underway; autonomous, self-propelled, electric lawnmowers are gliding quietly across our ballfields, parks, and backyards.

These zero-emission mowers have arrived just in time. Greenhouse gas emissions from lawn care and gardening account for 4% of the U.S. total, a staggering amount for a single industry.

How these climate-warrior robots find their way into suburban backyards falls to Adam D. Sloan and his company, Greener.

Frustrated with his unsightly backyard in Martha's Vineyard, Adam was smitten with whisper-quiet autonomous mowers the first time one did the job for him.

His career trajectory prepared him for his eureka moment. Adam spent twenty-five years on Wall Street as an investment banker. When the financial crisis struck in 2008, Adam’s job at Lehman Brothers was one of the first casualties of the ensuing economic turmoil.

Reflecting on what to do next, he embarked on a decades-long odyssey, joining multiple startups and building his entrepreneurial skills.

Now, Adam knew that if he could get robots and their docking stations installed in the backyards of other homeowners, he could transform the landscaping industry. The key was figuring out the business model and financing, a challenge he was well-suited to pursue.

Today, Greener provides autonomous mowers to landscaping companies that install them in customers' backyards. His company monitors and manages hundreds of autonomous mowers around the clock.

Landscapers love them because they free up labor to perform higher-skilled tasks. Homeowners love them because their lawns look fantastic. Everyone in the neighborhood loves them because they finally get their serene Saturday mornings back.

Adam joins the Supercool podcast to discuss the rise of robots and the future of zero-emission lawn care.

Take me to the podcast: Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and all other platforms.

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Number of the week: 18%

That’s the percentage of lawnmowers in America that now run on electric-powered batteries.

Quote of the week

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Related Stories

Here are five more climate angles on autonomous mowers that we find supercool:

Josh Once Brought An Autonomous Mower on The Martha Stewart Show

In 2007, a solar-powered robot mower helped Josh land his first national television appearance on The Martha Stewart Show. Back then, he was the creator and host of The Lazy Environmentalist radio show on SiriusXM, and Martha’s producers were considering him for an Earth Day segment. Folding bikes and flushable diapers were intriguing, but the lawn mower Josh suggested was the clincher. Martha liked it so much that she kept it. Soon after, Josh was hosting his own national television show on Sundance Channel.

Pro Sports Team Are Cutting Lawns and Emissions With Autonomous Mowers

In 2023, the San Francisco Giants became the first major league baseball team to use electric robo-mowers. They can't mow down batters or cut a fastball, but whenever they take the outfield at Oracle Park, the ball players signal their approval.

At the BMW Championship, Electric Robots Do More Than Cut Grass

Last month in Castle Pines, Colorado, zero-emission electric robots were out there amidst the golfers mowing fairways and manicuring putting greens to prepare the golf course for the pro tournament. Autonomous machines were also on the driving range, quietly scooping up balls.

Farmers Are Growing Grass To Capture Carbon

Before creating Supercool, Josh was co-founder & CEO of Plantd, a startup making structural building materials for walls, roofs, and floors out of grass instead of trees. This particular grass grows up to 30 feet tall every year. Commercial farmers in North Carolina are now growing it. D.R. Horton, the largest homebuilder in the U.S., purchased Plantd’s first 250,000 panels, which are about to become the walls for over 1,500 homes, replacing plywood and OSB.

The Electric Lawn Mower Future in California is Now Law

Effective in 2024, Assembly Bill No. 1346 bans the sale of new gas-powered mowers and other gas-powered yard equipment. Californians in the market for a new mower will only have electric options to select from. As the world’s 4th largest economy, the Golden State’s economic clout often sets the stage for regulations that follow elsewhere, so the move will likely be transformational for the industry. The Texas Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) maintains a map of bans and restrictions on gas-powered yard equipment across the U.S.

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Spotlight: The Hamptons

Known for its trendy, upscale towns, hamlets, and villages, the Hamptons, on the eastern tip of Long Island, are a beachgoer's haven. Sandy beaches, dazzling restaurants, and boutique hotels are world-class. The region also boasts sustainability initiatives that enhance quality of life.

Here’s what Supercool about the Hamptons.

1. Sustainable Winemaking: The Hamptons’ thriving wine culture prioritizes environmentally responsible viticulture. In 2012, vineyard owners came together to launch Long Island Sustainable Winemaking, an organization that educates and certifies Long Island’s vineyards in sustainability practices, now comprised of over a dozen vineyards. At Wölffer Estate (image above), its world-class wines include its Grandioso Rosé, winner of a double-gold at the 2023 SommCon Concours d’Vin Wine Competition held in San Diego.

2. Organic Farm Stands: Residents and vacationers enjoy direct access to fresh-grown, organic produce at some of the finest farm stands in the country. Amber Waves in Amagansett is an organic ocean-side farm that feeds locals and trains future farmers through its apprenticeship program that began in 2012.

3. Car-free Daytripping: Folks heading to the Hamptons from New York City have options that fit all budgets. Buses providing basic to luxury services shepherd beachgoers to several of the area's most notable towns, including Bridgehampton, Southampton, and East Hampton. Cooper’s Beach in Southampton is rated one of the ten best beaches in the U.S. and is open to the public. A local rent-a-bike program will get you there. Afterward, you can enjoy strolling Southampton’s picturesque downtown.

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