Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

Okay, so it's not just a simple plug-and-play adjustment to that monster fossil fuel guzzler, but this tutorial from Appropedia - the sustainability wiki - actually seems like it'd work. It replaces the combustible engine with a 12-volt electric motor that is charged by photovoltaic solar panel. The material list and cost analysis below proves its not cheap, but saving the world never is. Via.

Quantity      Materials      Source      Cost ($)      Total ($)
1     used lawnmower     yard sale     5.00     5.00
1     electric motor (Dayton 3/4HP, 12VDC) part #: 6ML04     Graingers     312.00     312.00
1     solar panel (UniSolar 11 Watt)     Affordable-solar.com     120.00     120.00
1     charge controller (Morningstar SunGuard 4.5A, 12V)     Affordable-solar.com     39.00     39.00
1     voltmeter     Kragen Auto Parts     22.00     22.00
1     ammeter     Kragen Auto Parts     16.00     16.00
1     battery (Sun Xtender 40 AH)     windsun.com     90.00     90.00
    misc. electrical (wire, etc.)     local electric store     25.00     25.00
    misc. hardware (nuts & bolts)     local hardware store     20.00     20.00
1     switch (70A)     Industrial Electric     50.00     50.00
Total Cost     699.00

• lawnmower
• grass
• solar
• sustainable
• green