Lawn maintenance involves tools and equipment that produce carbon emissions, including lawnmowers, weed whackers and leaf blowers. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), maintaining a small lawn can produce between 300 to 600 pounds of CO2 per year. That’s about what you’d get from driving about 3,000 miles in a typical car.

Water Waste

Depending on where you live and what type of grass you have planted in your yard, you may use anywhere from 1/2 to 2 inches of water per week. If your climate is drier than average or if it has been unusually dry lately, you might need even more water than that—which can really add up over time. That can be bad news, not only for your wallet, but also for the environment, especially during droughts.