Sustainability

1. Sustainability . . . . getting with it ! Midwest Ecological Landscape Association Feb. 25, 2010 By Ron Hall Landscape Management Magazine

2. Sustainability Our goal today is to: • …. define sustainability in relation to the products and services we offer clients and communities. • …. determine how best to build sustainable practices into our businesses and our services.

3. Sustainability Why this is vital • It provides us and our teams with a clear vision of the environmental, social and business reasons for what we do.

4. Sustainability Our unique Green Industry Construction: We’re architects, designers, constructors — We’re builders. Manufacturing: We’re maintainers with an assembly line, manufacturing approach to business. Agriculture: We’re plant growers, plant health experts with an agriculture mentality & plant/soil knowledge skills.

5. Sustainability A positive business to be in • We install it, grow it, maintain it, renovate it, replace it • Ongoing revenue stream • Great personal satisfaction • Great benefits to consumers, economy, the ENVIRONMENT

6. Sustainability Our very unique industry • We use expensive vehicles and equipment and use lots of fuel to deliver services. • We’re heavily dependent upon unskilled, low-wage labor. • Our products and services are daily and directly affected by Mother Nature’s whims.

7. Sustainability’s drivers • EPA’s Watersense • State and EPA emission regs • CA Water Efficient Landscape Ordinances • Canadian pesticide bans • Pesticide use restrictions — CT, NJ • Fertilizer use restrictions — MN, MI, MD, FL

8. SSI: The biggest driver? • Sustainable Sites Initiative = nation’s first rating system for sustainable landscapes • Voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices. • The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the ANLA and the U.S. Botanic Garden http://www.sustainablesites.org/

9. Definitions Sustainability is the capacity to endure In ecology sustainability describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. For humans it is the potential for long-term maintenance of wellbeing, which in turn depends on the wellbeing of the natural world and the the responsible use of natural resources.

10. Sustainability’s main points • Diversity of natural systems restored, maintained • Resources clean or cleaner at end use as beginning. • Enhanced local and regional self-reliance • Create and maintain community and culture of place • Balance between resources used, resources regenerated

11. More definitions • “Leave the world (landscape?) better than you found it, take no more than you need, try not to harm the environment, make amends if you do,”�Paul Hawken, The Ecology of Commerce • “Sustainable development (landscaping?) comprises types of economic and social development that protect and enhance the natural environment and social equity,” author unknown

12. Sustainability Experiences color our perceptions!

13. Urbanization of the U.S.A. • 80% of U.S. population lives in urban areas • majority are suburbanites • Core city residents make up about 30% • Combined they occupy 2% of U.S.

14. The 2nd huge ecological disruption • From natural systems to corn, beans, wheat • From ag to big box stores, fast food joints, housing developments

15. Our growing urban regions Earthobservatory.nasa.gov

16. Exurbs….what are they? • Communities beyond the suburbs • Cheap land, cheap fuel, lower taxes • Car culture, pedestrian unfriendly

17. U.S. population 438 million by 2050

18. People, Planet, Profits 3 great opportunities! • Green roofs, one of three great services that meets the 3 P’s • Intelligent water water management (runoff & irrigation) • Comprehensive Plant Health Care services; IPM just being one aspect

19. Sustainability definitions • “A sustainable society (landscape?) is one which satisfies its needs without diminishing the prospects of future generations,”�Lester R. Brown, Founder and President, Worldwatch Institute • “A thing (landscape?) is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise,�”Aldo Leopold, A Land Ethic, from Sand County Almanac

20. Sustainabilitythe 4 R’s • Reduce — Minimize turf, keep natural areas, minimize soil & site disruptions • Reuse — Chip woody and pallets waste into mulch, reuse soils within the work site • Recycle — Triple rinse, recycle plastic containers, recycle used oil and tires; compost or send green waste to be composted • Rebuy — Amended soils with compost, benches of recycled plastic www.epa.gov/greenscapes

21. Implementation: one step at a time • Kickoff meeting with key personnel • Owner/key managers must be committed. • Clear idea of what which initiatives you want to tackle. • Start with initiatives easiest to implement and return the best ROI. • Get quick wins to build enthusiasm!

22. Implementation: next steps • Incorporate one new green component into your company at a time. • Find champions to lead, monitor and measure your company’s efforts. • Share what’s working and what’s not working with your team. • Celebrate wins with your team to keep enthusiasm high.

23. Implementation: one step at a time • Employee wellness programs • Increase employee training • Saving fossil fuels in your fleet: GPS, no idling rule, reassessing vehicle needs • Recycling, office, yard, landscape waste • Energy-efficient lights, windows • Communicate and live it!

24. Sustainability Green roofs • Clean and retain rain water • Reduce “urban heat island effect” • Add beauty to our urban environments • Help lower air temperature • Improve air quality for everyone • Lower heating and cooling costs • Extend the life of roof materials

25. Chicago is U.S. leader . . . . Green roofs • More than 200 green roofs • More than 3 million sq. ft.

26. Total water management Let’s look at water in the landscape in a larger, more comprehensive sense — be creative.

27. Total water management Smart irrigation systems • Proper design • Proper installation • Proper maintenance

28. Total water management Capturing runoff and rainwater • Permeable pavers • Bioswales, rain gardens • Native areas • Greywater use • Cisterns, rain barrels

29. PHC = Plant Health Care A positive message • Evolving behind IPM. Using holistic and ecologically sound principles to grow a wide range of plants and prevent problems.

30. PHC = Plant Health Care Consider Your Options • If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail (a pesticide?) • Feeding, pruning, cultivating, mulching……finally IPM

31. PHC = Plant Health Care Preventing the Problem • Replacing plants prone to disease • Mulching, planting ground covers to reduce weeds • Spacing plants for better air circulation

32. PHC = Plant Health Care • Setting client expectations • Observing and scouting • Healthy, living soils • Adapted species, right climates • Proper cultural practices (Mowing, nutrition, irrigation.) • Finally. . . Pesticide use

33. We bring joy to our communities Imagine a home without flowers and trees. A community without trees and grassy parks. A community without the change of the seasons and their many colors.

34. My contact information Ron Hall Editor at Large Landscape Management rhall@questex.com Landscapemanagement.net Landscapemanagement.blogspot.com