An area in Woodstock, Ill., maintained by Langton Group, is Illinois’ first American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) Certified Robotic Green Zone. Not only is this the first AGZA Certified Green Zone in the state of Illinois, but the first Certified Green Zone using robotic mowers.
AGZA is a California-based nongovernmental organization whose charter is to help communities reduce noise and pollution using hand tools and electric-powered lawn and landscape equipment. The group works with nonprofit partner Quiet Communities to establish, monitor, verify and certify properties using more environmentally friendly solutions in lawn maintenance.
“From California to New York, people are recognizing the advantages of reducing the use of gas-powered lawn equipment,” said Dan Mabe, president of AGZA. “We at AGZA help educate citizens, business leaders and policymakers on the benefits of battery-powered options, which can eliminate gas pollution, reduce noise 40 to 70 percent and generally improve the quality of life in our communities.”
In its first Certified Robotic Green Zone in the state of Illinois, AGZA is working with Langton Group, a full-service, 250-employee, landscape construction, maintenance and snow removal company located in Woodstock.
“We are proud to be reducing our carbon footprint and at the same time providing our customers with a better product, a lawn that is trimmed daily and never overgrown,” said Joe Langton, president and CEO of Langton Group. “We have always tried to be environmentally conscious in our operations, and we’re excited to work with AGZA and utilize Husqvarna products to bring Certified Green Zones to Illinois.”
After learning about Langton’s interest in Husqvarna’s Automower technology, AGZA partnered with the company to help identify properties, inventory fleets and generate impact improvement reports to support the goal of Illinois’ first AGZA Certified Green Zones (ACGZ). The total acreage for the Illinois ACGZ is 29 acres.
AGZA and Quiet Communities are working with Langton Group as well as other communities and companies to conduct more Green Zone Certifications and generate impact improvement analysis continuing the progress made in Southern California and what has begun in Illinois.
