Benchmark Landscapes, Austin, Texas, has cut its fuel costs by 58 percent operating 46 lawn mowers on propane, the Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) reports. A commercial landscape maintenance and design company, Benchmark first switched to propane five years ago.
“We have been very pleased with our decision to convert our fleet to propane autogas,” says Clayton Oldham, a Benchmark Landscapes branch manager. “Operating clean propane mowers has enabled us to stay on the forefront of our industry in Central Texas by doing our part to protect the environment—all while saving money.”
In 2012 Benchmark paid an average of $1.45 per gallon for propane versus $3.45 for gasoline. The company reports saving more than $72,000 in the course of the year on fuel with propane. The landscaping fleet uses 36,000 gallons of propane annually, mowing for 38,640 hours over 18,480 acres per year. Benchmark has its own on-site propane autogas station for convenient refueling.
Propane is an ideal fuel for both lawn equipment and vehicle fleets, ProCOT reports, because it’s cleaner and more cost effective than gasoline, without sacrificing performance or ease of use.
