Landscape Management, December 2015
Goodbye TO GAS A look at three companies that are forgoing gas for battery powered equipment N ationwide many landscape companies are looking for ways to make their operations greener While some business owners have shied away from replacing gas powered equipment with battery powered alternatives because of the cost to swap out equipment or the fear that it wouldnt work as well those that have made the switch are fnding that their efforts have not gone unnoticed And goodwill with customers isnt the only beneft of switching to batteries To learn more we caught up with three different companies whove made the switch CARVING A NICHE Willamette Landscape Services Headquarters Tualatin Ore Client mix 100 commercial homeowner associations Service mix 80 maintenance including enhancements 20 irrigation Employees 60 80 Since 2013 Willamette Landscape Services has been investing in going electric The company runs eight 20 inch walk behind mowers from Mean Green Mowers and has about a half dozen string trimmers and one blower from the same manufacturer The electric equipment is hauled in one of two trailers rigged with solar powered panels for in feld charging The companys in house service department developed these equipment charging trailers in collaboration with a local RV dealer Willamette Landscape Services has two solar powered equipment trailers Weve been slowly adding more electric equipment to the feet says Greg Beck area manager for Willamette Approximately 20 percent of the companys walk behinds are now electric Its defnitely helped us carve a niche in our market There are certain accounts such as those in downtown Portland Ore where its particularly appreciated Thats because theres already a noise problem and they really appreciate that the equipment is quiet And its also because theres a strong movement to go green there Because the company works exclusively with HOAs where the homes are typically close together the residents prefer the quieter equipment If you switch from running loud conventional equipment outside of their window to something much quieter its going to get noticed Beck says BY LINDSEY GETZ DECEMBER 2015 LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET BP3 PHOTO WILLAMETTE LANDSCAPE SERVICES ON THE COVER ILLUSTRATION ISTOCK COM SUMKIN
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