LEHR is first to use propane as power source in hand-held lawn and garden tools

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 18, 2008) – LEHR Incorporated, a company dedicated to a cleaner planet through environmentally friendly technology, announces its launch as a leader in the research and development of propane powered lawn and garden equipment.

Founded by Captain Bernardo J. Herzer, LEHR is a pioneer in researching and developing cleaner and greener energy solutions to help conserve natural resources and preserve our environment. While conducting an environmental research expedition in the North Sea, Captain Herzer began developing the technology to effectively commercialize small generators to run on clean-burning propane. Simultaneously, he noticed that gasoline-powered lawn and garden tools produce up to thirty times more hydrocarbons than a typical automobile. Once his research was completed and the patent applications were filed, LEHR engineered a complete line of propane-powered lawn and garden tools.

Each product in LEHR’s initial line of lawn and garden equipment is fueled by a standard 16.4-ounce propane canister ensuring that the tools are cleaner and greener than any gasoline-powered tool currently on the market. With this patented propane technology, the tools in the LEHR Eco Series are safer, healthier and easier to use than any of their gasoline-powered competitors.

The LEHR Eco Trimmer is the first in the LEHR Eco Series. Projected to be available at participating ACE Hardware stores nationwide in 2009 as well as other national retail outlets, the LEHR Eco Trimmer is the first hand-held garden tool available commercially that uses a standard 16.4-ounce propane canister as its power source. It starts fast, runs clean and requires very little maintenance over the course of a full season of use. With the Twist ‘n Go!TM fueling system, users simply twist on the propane canister and start the trimmer. There is no messy mixing or gasoline storage required.

The LEHR Eco Trimmer has all of the power and performance of a similarly priced gasoline-powered trimmer, but without the danger, inconvenience and environmental effects of gasoline use and storage.

Propane is a nontoxic, nonpoisonous gas that does not contaminate soil or water. It is already in use by millions of Americans every day in furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners, fireplaces, appliances and outdoor grills. Propane is the cleaner, greener alternative fuel and has long been recognized as “green” energy. It can be up to five times more efficient than traditional fuels, resulting in less energy waste and better use of our planet’s resources. In addition, studies have shown that using propane in certain applications produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than many other fuels, making it an attractive option to help cut carbon emissions.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), homeowners spill an average of 17 million gallons of gasoline seasonally, and stricter EPA regulations have been enacted to reduce pollutants from lawn and garden equipment. On Sept. 4, 2008, the EPA released new standards for gas-powered lawn equipment that will take effect in 2010 and 2011. When fully implemented, the standard will reduce annual emissions by 600,000 tons of hydrocarbons,130,000 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), 5,500 tons of direct particulate matter, and 1.5 million tons of carbon monoxide (CO). LEHR products already exceed the 2011 standards by over 64 percent with zero evaporative emissions, offering consumers a jumpstart on a line of home and garden tools that are much less harmful to the environment than current gasoline-powered equipment.

“Consumers, businesses and municipalities using propane can be assured that they are choosing a fuel that helps to reduce carbon emissions without compromising performance,” said Roy Willis, president and CEO of The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC).

“At LEHR, we believe it’s time for a change,” says Captain Herzer. “Our dedication to preserving the environment for future generations is the driving force behind our development of products that are the cleanest, greenest and most reliable in the industry.”