We've already had several ozone action days in the Carolinas. There's a way homeowners can mow the grass this summer and not contribute to pollution and ozone.

Florence Arrowsmith used to pay someone to mow her lawn in Lincolnton on a big riding lawnmower.

“It smokes and spews all kinds of stuff,” she said.

But now she is mowing herself with a new mower that doesn't spew anything. It's powered by a rechargeable battery.

“It’s a wonderful machine. It doesn’t pollute the air or make a lot of noise,” she said.

Arrowsmith was thinking about buying a battery powered mower and decided it was the right time we she heard about a new program through Mecklenburg County Air Quality called Mowing Green Keeps Air Clean. It offers vouchers to get a $430 mower for only $290.

Mecklenburg County said one gas mower can emit as much pollution as 40 new or late-model cars operating over the same period of time.

“I’m concerned with bad air. We have a lot of it in the Char-Meck area,” she said.

At least now Arrowsmith knows she's not adding to the problem when she cuts the lawn.

For more information: Battery Powered Mowers