Arup conducted tests on three gas and four battery-powered leaf blowers to assess their noise impact. The results revealed that gas leaf blowers produce a significantly higher low-frequency sound component, which travels further and penetrates home windows more easily, making them noticeably louder indoors and contributing to greater noise disturbance in the community compared to battery leaf blowers.

Jamie Banks, Executive Director of Quiet Communities, supported Bill 22-234, which regulates gas leaf blowers (GLBs) in Washington, D.C. She emphasized the health risks of GLBs, including noise pollution and emissions affecting vulnerable populations, and advocated for battery-powered leaf blowers (BLBs) as a cleaner, quieter alternative. Her testimony urged prompt legislative action to improve air quality and community well-being.

Dr. Daniel Fink, Board Chair of The Quiet Coalition, submitted a statement to the D.C. City Council supporting the Leaf Blower Amendment Act of 2017 (Bill No. 22-234). He warned that gas-powered leaf blower noise poses serious health risks, including hearing loss and other health issues, and noted that its low-frequency sound travels further and impacts more residents than battery-powered alternatives.