If snow shoveling conjures up unpleasant childhood memories of wet woolen mittens and sore backs, you have
metromode's fullest sympathies. While many Michiganders have since graduated to the snowblower, we are here to re-introduce the snow shovel and say that, for now, it is the only environmentally-conscious way to remove snow.
First of all, remember that today's snow shovels can be ergonomic and work just as well as a snow-pusher rather than a snow-lifter. A marked improvement for muscles.
A product that is a bit more of an investment (but at $119.25, still less than a snow-blower!) is the
Whovel: a snow shovel on a wheel. It is getting rave reviews from folks like the New York Times and Time Magazine for its design, which utilizes your body weight to push snow without much energy expenditure.
Ix-nay on the salt: its run-off is bad for the water system. If you need a gripper, sand is better, but make sure you sweep up as much as possible during dry periods so as not to clog the sewer system.
And when worse comes to worse, hire a neighbor kid.
If you missed metromode's green resolution suggestions for 2008, check it out here.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.