Operating a petrol powered lawn mower for an hour produces as much CO2 as driving 30 km, the U.S. EPA estimates, so its worth looking at some climate friendly lawn mowing options. Let's look at three options to green up your grass.

1. The original mower - get a sheep, goat, cow or even a goose.

Pluses - Exceptionally efficient and easy to use. Quieter than a traditional mower, and without the petrol consumption and the associated emission, and mechanical maintenance. Self starting to boot! You can also benefit from the by products of eggs, wool, and manure for fertilizer.

Minuses - You'll have to house it, possibly supplement its diet and take it to the vet. It might also take a fancy to your prize petunias.

Other considerations - You'll need to consider how much grass you have to support your animal.

A cow needs about 4000 square meters
A sheep needs about 900 square meters
A goat needs about 900 square meters
A goose needs about 900 square meters

2. The reel mower - people powered mowing makes a comeback

Modern reel mowers are much easier to use than grandpa's old clunker, with improvements such as aluminum handles, pneumatic tires, blades of high-carbon steel, improved ball bearings, gears and axles. You can even get ones with a catcher to collect the clippings. A new one will set you back about $200. You can order one online here.

Pluses - No emissions! You can multitask, combining mowing with exercise. You can jog behind the new generation reel mowers, making mowing with a reel mower even faster than using a regular motor mower.

Minuses - Blades need to be kept sharp. Apparently you can buy blade sharpening kits so you won't have to pay someone else to maintain them.

Other considerations - Caito says that from her experience with a manual mower, you have to stay on top of the mowing. If you let your lawn get too long, the grass wraps around the cutting blades and you end up in a big tangle. So if you tend to be a bit lazy with your lawn this might not be for you.

3. Solar Powered.

But lazy folk despair not! For here is the world's first solar powered robotic lawn mower! Not only is it climate friendly but its AUTOMATIC as well! And you don't have to cuddle it or clean up its droppings!

Pluses - No emissions and no effort! The automower wanders unattended around any level lawn, its collision sensors carefully avoiding contact with anything but the grass itself. What's not to love about that?!

Minuses - The $3 K price tag might put you off.

Other considerations - There are cheaper solar powered options available. Unfortunately you will have to push them yourself. Check this one out. Unfortunately these are made by a Canadian company who don't sell them in Australia :(. If you know of how to get a solar mower in Australia, please let us know!

Of course you can save yourself all the trouble by not having a lawn at all!