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AGZA FOUNDER DAN MABE SHARES WHY SUSTAINABILITY IS A VITAL ELEMENT TO CONSIDER FOR ANY BUSINESS
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, but 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.
he 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, Eco-conscious corporate clients, improve the health of maintenance workers, municipalities and residents are already reduce impacts on our planet, and enhance aligning themselves with vendors who share the quality of life in our communities. the same values—including their lawncare Here’s why: operators. There is an emerging new Each year in the United States, Americans industry for quiet lawncare service with mow, trim, edge, and blow 50,000 square zero emission. Businesses like golf courses, miles of lawns. That hospitals, municipal parks, requires burning 1.2 HOAs, schools and office billion gallons of gas, buildings, want quiet which generates 11.8 service and better air million tons of carbon quality. They want dioxide. Not only a lawncare service does gas-powered that can deliver both. equipment cause We worked with the pollution of the lungs City of South Pasadena, and air, but it’s also California to help them noisy and disruptive. become the first AGZA Our goal at the Green Zone City. American Green Zone All of their landscape QUIET LAWNCARE Alliance has been to maintenance equipment help lawncare must be battery-
52 Pro Landscaper USA South May/June 2021
EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES, AMERICANS MOW, TRIM, EDGE, AND BLOW 50,000 SQUARE MILES OF LAWNS
GREEN AMERICANLIANCE ZONE AL
SUNTEK LAWN CARE 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 of carbon dioxide each year. And their crews’ noise levels are 40 to 70% 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.
A B O U T DA N M A B E Dan Mabe is the founder of The American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA).
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