Caring for the natural environment is part of our work as landscape gardeners. Our teams spend a lot of time designing, installing and maintaining landscapes that do so much good for our earth.
Because of the work we do, we have many opportunities to make small changes that can have an even bigger impact on Mother Earth. Often, these changes are good for our business, too.
I am not sure there is a company in this country that proves better that sustainability is good for business than Sebert Landscape in Chicago, whose LEED Gold-certified facility we will visit during our excursion with NALP on September 17 and 18. Sebert ranked No. 60 at the 2024 LM150 List with sales of $61,350,000.
Look, I’m by no means advocating banning gas-powered equipment or for every company to convert their entire fleet to electric tomorrow. I’m advocating that landscapers look at companies like Sebert and start thinking about the small changes they could make to help both the planet and their bottom line.
Furnishings
In my last Interview with Jeff Sebert, founder and CEO of Sebert Landscape In my podcast, The Grow Show, Jeff shares more information about their facility and the decisions made when it was built in 2010.
One of the simplest decisions any business could make this fall is to use high-efficiency lighting. We installed motion-activated lights in our offices and, coupled with the use of LED bulbs, we were able to reduce our energy consumption.
equipment
The Sebert team relies entirely on battery-powered devices and has found ways to make them usable – with appropriate charging infrastructure and trailers.
If you’re considering your equipment needs for 2025, is it time to try out some battery-powered parts and see what your teams think? If you’re worried about charging infrastructure, maybe it’s time to sign up to visit us in Sebert in September.
team
People make great companies great. Even small things team members do can make a difference to the environment. For example, when sales reps select plants that are well adapted to their region, both native and non-native, it reduces maintenance and additional watering needs. Such choices are a win-win. They are good for our team, good for our customers, and good for the planet.
The Sebert team has gone beyond these simple decisions: they have set up charging infrastructure, installed rooftop solar panels, converted nearly all of their equipment to battery or propane power, and trained their teams to offer their clients more sustainable options when working with property managers.
If you have been thinking about making some of these changes but weren’t sure where to start, touring their facility and learning from their team should be at the top of your to-do list this fall. It’s an opportunity to get away from the day-to-day grind of running your own business, tour a successful operation, and meet other success-oriented landscape professionals to learn together. I hope you’ll join me in Chicago in September.
