The landscape industry, known for loud and inefficient fueled equipment, is shifting towards more sustainable operations. More and more, reliable battery-powered equipment is becoming available for use at commercial facilities. Heritage is embracing this battery-powered equipment in our maintenance division to reduce our impact on the environment and people.
The Drive for Change
As Heritage expanded throughout the state, our team wanted to lead the way with environmentally sound landscaping practices. A major aspect of this is converting our maintenance division’s gas powered equipment to battery.
“Our main goal was to reduce emissions and promote sustainability by embracing new technology,” says Fleet Manager Shawn Mills. “Everything else beyond that has been an added benefit. Our clients and employees love how quiet the machinery is, and we’re proud to create a healthier work environment for the communities we serve.”
Why Battery-Powered Equipment
The benefits stretch far beyond us simply adopting a greener choice—our clients appreciate the switch just as much as our planet.
- Quieter Operations
Battery-powered machinery is significantly quieter than traditional gas-powered equipment keeping our noise pollution low. Now, our clients experience much less disruption when our team is doing regular maintenance.
- Lower Operational Costs
While the upfront cost is more for battery-powered equipment, it requires less preventative maintenance and inputs (i.e., oil, spark plugs, etc.) keeping our overall costs down. Battery-powered equipment also has a longer lifespan.
- Reduced Carbon Footprint
By reducing our need for gas, we are slashing our greenhouse emissions, using less inputs and decreasing our waste. For instance, we save one gallon of gas for each hour a battery-powered weed eater runs.
- Healthier Work Environment
The switch to battery-powered tools means less exposure to harmful fumes and vibrations, creating a healthier environment for our team and boosting their overall well-being.
Looking Ahead
We are committed to converting our maintenance division equipment to 100% battery operated within the next two years. The positives outweigh the negatives by a large margin (no pun intended)
Currently, all of our trucks in the Columbia area have chargers for battery-powered equipment. We have one truck in the Upstate that is equipped with solar panels to charge equipment efficiently on the road. Shawn and the team at our shop upfit the box trucks in-house and plan to install more solar panels on our trucks over the next several months.
“By having people with different skill sets , we’ve optimized the transition to electric equipment and look forward to implementing it further to our branches in the Upstate and Lowcountry,” said Shawn. “Ashley’s vision has been instrumental in this project, as he is always looking into the future and thinking of ways to improve our operations for the betterment of our clients, employees and environment.”
About Heritage
At Heritage, we’re dedicated to helping companies reach their sustainability goals through innovative and eco-friendly landscaping solutions. Whether it’s reducing emissions, conserving water, or minimizing waste, we tailor our services to meet your unique needs.
But our commitment doesn’t stop with our clients. We’re continuously working to improve our own practices beginning with our commitment to using electric equipment. Partner with us to create a greener future, together.
Click here to get started on your journey toward sustainability.
