Becoming A Sustainable Landscaping Company

AGZA Founder Dan Mabe Shares Why Sustainability
is a Vital Element to Consider for Any Business

The last issue of Pro Landscaper USA South was dedicated to sustainability, and I hope all of you had the chance to read the many wonderful ideas, projects and viewpoints. 

But the topic of sustainability is one that needs to be on our minds on a daily basis year-round. With sustainable practices, the landscaping industry is in an extraordinary position to make a positive impact—not just on the environment, but on your bottom line. And it’s not as difficult as you might think.

I founded the American Green Zone Alliance in 2010 to create green-collar jobs, improve the health of maintenance workers, reduce impacts on our planet, and enhance the quality of life in our communities. Here’s why:

"Each year in the United States, Americans mow,
trim, edge & bow 50,000 square miles of lawns."

That requires burning 1.2 billion gallons of gas, which generates 11.8 million tons of carbon dioxide. Not only does gas-powered equipment cause pollution of the lungs and air, it’s also noisy and disruptive. 

Our goal at the American Green Zone Alliance has been to help lawncare companies shift from fossil fuel operations to lower-impact and battery-powered operations. By doing this, lawncare companies not only protect the health of the environment and their employees as well as reduce noise levels, they also make themselves more marketable and reduce costs after only 24 months. AGZA is also encouraging companies to offer more “organic” solutions with fertilizing, weed and pest control.  

Eco-conscious corporate clients, municipalities and residents are already aligning themselves with vendors who share the same values—including their lawncare operators. There is an emerging new industry for quiet lawncare service with zero emission. Businesses like golf courses, hospitals, municipal parks, HOAs, schools and office buildings, want quiet service and better air quality. They want a lawncare service that can deliver both.

We worked with the City of South Pasadena, California to help them become the first AGZA Green Zone City.  All of their landscape maintenance equipment must be battery-powered, cordless and electric. We’ve also just completed a corporate certification for Suntek Lawn Care in Lake Nona, just outside of Orlando. Not only does Suntek use battery-powered equipment, but their vans also generate their own solar power to charge their equipment batteries. Suntek is avoiding more than 400 pounds of ozone-forming exhaust, 5,500 pounds of carbon monoxide and 19,000 pounds carbon dioxide each year. And their crews’ noise levels are 40 to 70 percent lower than crews with gas-powered equipment. Their certification helps show future customers of their dedication to the quality of life in Central Florida. They are already gaining new business because of it. 

I hope you’ll consider making the switch from gas-powered to electric and learn new ways to become more sustainable. Your employees, your customers, and your community will thank you. 

ABOUT

Dan Mabe is the founder of The American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA). agza.net