Yesterday I woke up to the annoying sound of a leaf blower. The municipality were doing gardening work outside my apartment. I can't help but to think that the leaf blower is one of mankind's worst inventions.

The noise is just unbearable and the personnel is using both ear plugs and hearing caps to protect their hearing. Most of the leaf blowers run on gasoline which we now know is an energy source we will no longer have in 5 - 30 years depending on who you ask. And it's an obvious source of pollution.

Pollution from gas-powered groundskeeping equipment is a significant source of air pollution.
-US EPA

I asked some friends why on earth they couldn't used the old proven technology of rakes? They're cheap, virtually silent and they give you some exercise as well. No need to go to the gym after work!

Some of my friends said rakes are probably not very ergonomic, that was likely the reason the municipality workers used leaf blowers. I don't see how gasoline guzzzling leaf blowers could be more ergonomic though, really. The leaves fall once every year. Surely the personell can handle a week or two of manual labour?