Agza handbook by Luke Massman-Johnson

The AGZA Green Zone Certification Handbook

The AGZA Green Zone Certification Handbook ®

Beautify Your Property, Improve the Quality of Life in Your Community

The AGZA Green Zone Certification Handbook

FORWARD The people who clean, maintain, and manicure our properties, streets, neighborhoods, and communities are unsung heroes. Grounds maintenance workers keep morale high and people feeling good, confident, and safe by creating clean, organized, and aesthetically pleasing environments for all to enjoy. Imagine grounds maintenance workers across the country becoming champions of the environment and stewards of the land while performing their daily work. Adopting a sustainable approach to landscape grounds maintenance is not only about using clean tech new electric technologies in place of traditional petroleum-‐powered gardening equipment. It is also about improving workers’ physical health through the usage of zero-‐ emission equipment, diminishing our reliance upon fossil fuels, drastically cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing noise and land pollution in our local communities. ~ AGZA OUR MISSION The goal of AGZA accreditation the grounds maintenance industry and encourage Green Zoning. Green Zoning improves our quality of life and living standards through sustainable practices, zero-‐emission technologies, and simple solutions with a common sense approach for the grounds maintenance industry. This includes large landscaping companies and municipalities, property maintenance workers, and do-‐it-‐yourself homeowners with small properties. We shed light on how the continuous daily use of two stroke, four stroke, diesel, and gasoline powered lawn equipment diminishes the quality of our lives on many different levels. Our cities, suburbs, schools and parks are subjected to noise, air, soil, and solid waste pollution on a daily basis in association with our ceaseless quest for perfectly manicured lawns and leafless properties. AGZA Green Zoning Certification provides facts, simple alternatives and practical solutions to the substantial negative environmental impacts associated with traditional fossil fuel driven, gas-‐powered landscape maintenance practices.

The AGZA Green Zone Certification Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS I. AGZA Green Zoning ™ Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II. The Environmental Benefits of AGZA Green Zoning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III. Making the Switch: Converting from Gas-‐Powered to Electric Equipment . . . . IV. Cost benefit and ROI (Return On Investment Analysis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V. Safety and Routine Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Link to AGZA Certification Quiz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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I. GREEN ZONING™ DEFINED In essence, “Green Zoning” refers to the designation of specific geographical areas in which zero-‐emission landscape maintenance equipment is primarily or exclusively used—in place of typical gasoline-‐powered equipment. As discussed in the following sections in greater detail, converting from gas-‐powered landscape maintenance equipment to zero-‐emission electric appliances drastically reduces air pollution, and significantly diminishes noise levels, toxic waste, and solid waste production. There are two primary elements of Green Zoning: 1. Identifying properties/geographical locations that are suitable to use zero-‐emission electric equipment to maintain property grounds. 2. Accrediting/certifying landscape maintenance companies, service providers and home owners to use zero-‐emission, electric equipment. Grounds maintenance managers, territory managers for large companies, sustainability directors/managers, and home owners can all create and maintain Green Zones.

In addition to the substantial environmental benefits associated with converting from gasoline to electric gardening equipment (i.e., reduction in air and noise pollution, etc.), AGZA is working with local and state politicians to develop monetary incentives (e.g., tax credits) for properties and service providers that have been AGZA accredited/certified and practice Green Zoning.

The AGZA Green Zone Certification Handbook

II. THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF GREEN ZONING The potential to reduce billions of tons of air pollution, and toxic solid waste, as well as eliminating the need to use hundreds of millions of gallons of hazardous chemicals used to maintain lawn and garden equipment. Electrification of the grounds maintenance industry will significantly reduce noise levels, improve worker health, and provide a higher quality of life for our neighborhoods and communities. Significant reduction in air pollution: According to William Burke, Chairman of the South Coast Air Quality Management District in California, a gas powered lawn mower used just once a week can generate as much harmful air pollution in a year as 43 new cars driven 12,000 miles. Putting 4000 gas mowers out of commission reduces smog forming emission by up to 20 tons per year. This is the same effect as shutting down all the Southland oil refineries for one day. Additionally, The California Air Resources Board (CARB) calculates that gas powered leaf blowers inject 2.11 tons of combustion pollutants per day into Orange County air. The EPA has documented data that reveals the air pollution creation for many different communities across the country. It is estimated that 7 to 8 percent of all green house gas emissions are a result of operating gas powered lawn and garden equipment. This is a significant number especially considering how much pollution is created by such small engines. Pound for pound gas powered lawn and garden equipment is one of the most polluting technologies on the planet. Reduction of noise levels by 35% -‐ 50%: Typical gas-‐powered lawn and garden equipment operates at 85 decibels (dBA) or above within 20 feet of operation (at three feet, the dBA are typically well-‐above 90). With regard to the gardeners who operate these gas-‐powered equipment, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recommended that all worker exposures to noise should be controlled below a level equivalent to 85 dBA for eight hours to minimize occupational noise induced hearing loss.1 Regarding the impact of noise pollution, the U.S. EPA provides compelling evidence that suggests noise pollution contributes to: • • • • • • •

Hearing loss Reduced cognitive performance in children Increased blood pressure Cardiovascular problems Gastrointestinal distress Depressed immune systems And psychological problems.2

The AGZA Green Zone Certification Handbook

The noise levels from gas powered lawn and garden equipment is hazardous to worker and community health The elimination of harsh solvents and petroleum products required for the operation and maintenance of gas-‐powered gardening equipment: In addition to the gasoline and two-‐stroke gasoline mixtures required to run conventional lawn mowers, blowers, string trimmers, hedger, etc., this equipment also requires the use of various engine cleaners, degreasers, oil changes, etc., to operate efficiently. Not only are these materials expensive and hazardous to work with, the engine cleaners and lubricants are packaged in plastic and metal containers that require proper storage and disposal; ultimately, discarded containers containing toxic residue end up in our land-‐fills. Reduction of oil and gas consumption: The Department of Energy has estimated that the United States uses more than 1.2 billion gallons of gasoline to mow and trim lawns each year — about seven gallons per household. Mowers also consume engine oil in their crankcases, and two-‐stroke gardening appliances (e.g., string trimmers, hedge trimmers, blowers, etc.) consume oil in their fuel. The estimates for gas and consumption for all lawn and garden equipment in the USA is over 2 billion gallons a year. Health of the landscape maintenance service providers and non-‐consenting people and animals in close proximity to gas-‐powered gardening equipment: The emissions associated with gasoline-‐powered landscape maintenance equipment are a primary source of air pollution on a nation-‐wide scale. These emissions are highly toxic to the individuals who directly operate gasoline-‐powered equipment for numerous hours during a typical work day, as well as to non consenting people who happen to be nearby. According to the American Lung Association of Sacramento3, particle emissions from combustion engines are typically smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), a size so small that it evades the body's defense systems. According to the EPA and ARB4, PM2.5 and under can increase the number and severity of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate bronchitis or other lung disease, and reduce our ability to fight infections. Furthermore, scientific studies have linked increases in daily PM2.5 exposure with increased respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, emergency department visits and deaths. Studies also suggest that long term exposure to fine particulate matter may be associated with increased rates of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function and increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease. People with breathing and heart problems, children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM2.5. Based on anecdotal observation, it is apparent gas-‐powered gardening equipment is not typically operated according to the manufacturers' own warnings. For example, according to Echo’s "Power Blower Operators Manual,” everyone within 50 feet of a blower in use should be

The AGZA Green Zone Certification Handbook

wearing hearing, eye, and breathing protection. Unfortunately, blowers and other gas-‐powered equipment are often used within less than 50 feet of bystanders such as pedestrians, cyclists, and even people inside their own homes who can hardly be expected to put on hearing, eye, and breathing protection each time a gardening crew visits the neighborhood. 1 DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 96-‐110, Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss -‐ A Practical Guide 2 U.S. EPA -‐ Noise Effects Handbook, A Desk Reference to Health and Welfare Effects of Noise 3 American Lung Association of Sacramento -‐ Emigrant Trails, "Fact Sheet: Leaf Blower Air Pollution Impacts Study Results." 4 "Particulate Matter Air Pollution: A threat to our health", Best Available Control Measure (BACM) Working Group, Jan 1997

III. MAKING THE SWITCH: CONVERTING FROM GAS-POWERED TO ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT Matching Property Characteristics with Electric Equipment Packages: Selecting the appropriate cordless electric landscape maintenance equipment and battery system requires initial forethought and planning. Green Zoning matches the performance capabilities of electric equipment with the maintenance demands of each property. Fixed locations or mutable service route operations will benefit using electric instead of gas powered equipment. In addition to the measurements of turf, hedges, hardscapes and planter areas, the type of turf also factors into determining the appropriately sized battery bank and equipment models. Charging Station and Battery Bank A charging station with a sturdy rack that will house the chargers and batteries to safely charge on a 110 volt system will be required. This will replace using gas cans and trips to the gas station. All of your energy needs will be charged and stored on site on fixed commercial and residential properties such as school campuses, large multi acre estates, and residential homes. For mobile commercial route operations that travel from job to job, the battery bank will be charged daily overnight and the amount of battery capacity to adequately perform the day’s route should be stored on the truck. However, opportunity charges on the truck and at route properties can be utilized. Equipment The same holds true for the adequate amount of equipment models you will to get through your daily workload whether fixed or mobile operations. Understanding your maintenance demands in a fixed location or route is essential. Use of leaf blowers, hedge trimmers and string trimmers are based on similar calculations. The amount of equipment required will also be based on the size of the crew.

The AGZA Green Zone Certification Handbook

IV. COST BENEFIT AND ROI (RETURN ON INVESTMENT ANALYSIS) Return on Investment (ROI): Converting from gasoline to electric equipment can save a full-‐ time, two-‐person commercial gardening operation $200 to $350 a month in fuel savings alone depending on hourly use. Additional savings are derived from the greatly reduced maintenance, repair, and parts replacement costs associated with cordless electric equipment compared to their gas powered counter parts. For example, commercial-‐grade, gasoline-‐powered gardening equipment is serviced every 2 to 3 months, and often replaced altogether after three years of service. By contrast, commercial-‐ grade cordless electric appliances require substantially less costly maintenance services associated with combustion engines (e.g., oil changes, air or fuel filter changes, engine tuning, etc.), and effective service life is commensurate with, if not in excess of, that associated with gasoline-‐powered equipment. Although the batteries that power the cordless electric equipment are the biggest up-‐front cost of cordless electric equipment packages, the latest battery technologies offer excellent cycle life (one cycle = one discharge and one charge), indicating such batteries can be expected to endure 5 to 7 years of daily usage before they show an appreciative decline in their capacity to store electrical energy. For electric equipment, the maximum daily energy demand per each two-‐person crew does not typically exceed 2.0 KWh. Based on a conservative rate of electricity at $.25/KWh, it costs approximately $10.83 per month ($.25 x 2.0KWh x 5 days per week x 4.33 weeks per month) to supply the electrical energy needs of one full-‐time, two-‐person gardening crew. Given the fuel savings cited above, the return on investment (ROI) for a commercial-‐grade electric equipment package sufficient to meet the needs of a full-‐time, two-‐person gardening crew is estimated to be less than two years. V. SAFETY AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE Safety procedures are universal to all grounds maintenance equipment. As with any type of heavy duty commercial equipment, take the following steps to minimize risk of worker/ community injury and damaging equipment. •

Successfully complete initial training session with an AGZA accredited certification specialist

The AGZA Green Zone Certification Handbook

• • • • •

Read the operating manual before employing the equipment Strictly adhere to all warning sections in operating manual Properly use, charge, and store equipment in the recommended temperature ranges Familiarize and know your work areas Never rush your workload while operating heavy duty equipment with blades and sharp edges

Cordless electric equipment on average requires one tenth the routine maintenance compared to their gas counter parts. Current cordless electric equipment operates at low-‐voltage, meaning there is no danger of electrocution from the equipment or battery itself. Additionally, the battery technology being used has been tested to be completely safe under normal operating conditions. The batteries and equipment typically require little maintenance, normal cleaning/dusting, typical blade-‐sharpening for the lawn mowers, and occasional lubrication for hedge trimmers and chain saws. Some electrical parts will need to be replaced such as controllers, relays, switches, and fuses. On very rare occasions a motor will need to be replaced. Neither batteries nor the equipment should be used or left out in the rain, though usage during very light drizzle will not affect operation. Never use water to clean electric equipment. Bristle brushes and compressed air should be used. CONGRATULATIONS — you’ve finished the handbook! When you’re ready, you can complete the last step in your certification process by taking our AGZA Certification Quiz. IMPORTANT: you’ll need this case-‐sensitive password to access the quiz, so take note of it now: KickGas! OK, just click the ribbon on the left and you’ll jump directly to the online testing page. Good luck! ~ The AGZA Team © 2015 The American Green Zone Alliance