Hi. This is Chris Matt, Associate Editor of Maintenance Solutions magazine. Today’s tip … making grounds care green.
Grounds-maintenance practices can minimize a facility’s environmental footprint by reducing pesticide applications; instituting erosion control and storm-water management; and maximizing irrigation-system efficiency.
First, integrated pest management uses common-sense strategies to reduce sources of food, water and shelter for pests in buildings and landscaped areas. IPM programs take advantage of effective pest-management strategies and call for pesticides only when the target pest has reached an unacceptable level.
Secondly, maintaining healthy turf and planting beds can help filter storm-water runoff, and controlling runoff can significantly reduce erosion. Collecting and controlling the recharge of storm water through a retention pond also can pay environmental dividends.
Finally, one of the best ways to improve an irrigation system’s efficiency is to perform an audit. An audit documents existing sources of water waste and recommends steps to reduce the use and costs of irrigation systems.
