Supported by Sustainable Westchester and created in partnership with American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) and Quiet Communities, Inc. (QCi)
The Village of Larchmont, with the support of Sustainable Westchester, celebrated the inauguration of Westchester County’s first-ever AGZA Certified Green Zone® at Kane Park on Wednesday, September 22nd.
Representatives of the Village of Larchmont and the Larchmont Environmental Committee, Westchester County, Sustainable Westchester, AGZA, QCi and neighboring community municipal leaders, friends and sustainability advocates attended the ribbon-cutting event.
The Village of Larchmont, Mayor Walsh and its Environmental Committee acknowledged the extraordinary effort of the collective community in making this initiative happen. County Legislator Catherine Parker and Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability, Peter McCartt spoke about the commitment the County intends to make to foster wider adoption of sustainable landscaping practices. Sustainable Westchester’s Executive Director, Nina Orville spoke about how the Village of Larchmont’s undertaking will serve as the model for other municipal action and has committed through its partnership with AGZA and QCi to bring this climate action solution to other municipalities.
The Town of Rye, Supervisor, Debbie Reisner, was on hand to present a proclamation to the Village of Larchmont, which stated in part “…in recognition of the Village of Larchmont and its leadership for its commitment to sustainability and protection of our ienvironment and the purposeful work promoting environmental preservation throughout the community…”
Austin Acocella, Supervisor of ACL Property Maintenance, the contractor for maintenance of the Larchmont village parks, spoke of his experience in the practical application of sustainable landscaping. A demonstration from Mean Green Mowers’ Zach Mersch showed how state-of-the-art electric landscaping equipment can be effective, efficient and make a significant positive environmental impact through the reduction of harmful toxic emissions.
Conceived by AGZA in Los Angeles, CA, Green Zones are defined properties that model sustainable landscaping practices by using low-impact electric equipment and people-powered tools for routine grounds maintenance. Decreases in greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution are measured on these properties, and successful projects are certified as Green Zones. The first municipal Green Zone was certified in California in 2016; now they are spreading across the US.
Since March 2021, equipment usage and emissions monitoring at Kane Park have been overseen by Dan Mabe, AGZA President, in partnership with Quiet Communities, Inc., a national nonprofit founded by Jamie Banks, PhD, MS, in Lincoln, MA to help communities reduce health and environmental harm from noise and pollution.
“We are thrilled to establish Westchester County’s first AGZA Certified Green Zone at Kane Park with the Village of Larchmont. Larchmont is leading by example and improving the quality of life for village residents. AGZA looks forward to expanding Larchmont’s Green Zone areas and working together to reach out to private gardeners with education and information on how to reduce gas use.” – Dan Mabe, CEO, AGZA
Together with Austin Acocella, they ensured that all Green Zone regulations were met prior to today’s ribbon cutting.
“The AGZA Green Zone at Kane Park will provide a cleaner, quieter, healthier environment for workers, residents, children, and visitors. Noise levels are cut in half and toxic exhaust is eliminated. The Green Zone provides a good example of how electrification benefits the planet. At Kane Park alone, transition away from fossil fuels will reduce carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to planting 47 trees.” – Jamie Banks, Quiet Communities, Inc, Founder
In an Environmental Landscape Footprint (ELF) report which quantifies the reduction in toxic, carcinogenic, greenhouse gas, noise and solid waste emissions, Quiet Communities shared these projected outcomes. Transitioning other areas of the Village will increase those carbon reductions 7.5 times – equivalent to 300 additional trees. If all cities, towns, and villages in Westchester made similar transitions, the carbon reductions would be equivalent to planting nearly 16,000 trees just from transitioning their municipal operations. And, that’s a conservative estimate.
In the Fall of 2020, the Village of Larchmont passed a landmark code, effective January 1, 2022, that entirely bans the use of gas-powered leaf blowers and restricts the use of electric leaf blowers to spring and fall clean-up periods. Larchmont is taking sustainable landscaping several steps further by encouraging mulch mowing; forgoing chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers; and using native trees and plants in landscaping municipal properties. Larchmont’s Green Zone demonstrates that properties can be well-maintained without the use of fossil fuel-powered equipment.
“Larchmont is proud to be a leader in municipal green policy. It is essential that we rapidly change our practices in order to make meaningful progress in mitigating climate change.” – Mayor Lorraine Walsh
In addition to their supervision of the Kane Park Green Zone, AGZA and QCi, offer training and information about best sustainable landscape management practices.
“With AGZA’s guidance, Larchmont looks forward to offering landscapers and residents educational programming and workshops on sustainable landscape maintenance in the coming year.” – Lisa McDonald, Co-Chair, Larchmont Environmental Committee
Supporting the development of the Green Zone demonstration site and the launch event is Sustainable Westchester, the nonprofit consortium of Westchester County dedicated to environmental sustainability through education and clean energy programs and initiatives. Sustainable Westchester‘s vision is that the success of Larchmont’s Green Zone will offer a blueprint and inspire other municipalities to introduce their own Green Zones.
“We congratulate Larchmont for their commitment and hard work in creating Westchester’s first certified ‘ AGZA Green Zone’ that will serve as a countywide model for sustainable and healthier landscaping practices. We are proud to have played a role in helping to facilitate this initiative with the Larchmont community and our partners American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) and Quiet Communities. The Larchmont Green Zone is another example of the important work by Westchester municipalities and their dedicated environmental committees and volunteers. We look forward to using this model to help lead the way to greater adoption countywide.” – Neha Dhanik, Program Director, Sustainable Westchester
FIRST AGZA CERTIFIED GREEN ZONE IN WESTCHESTER
INAUGURATED IN LARCHMONT!
Supported by Sustainable Westchester and created in partnership with American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) and Quiet Communities, Inc. (QCi)
(9/23/2021, Mount Kisco) The Village of Larchmont, with the support of Sustainable Westchester, celebrated the inauguration of Westchester County’s first-ever AGZA Certified Green Zone® at Kane Park on Wednesday, September 22nd.
Representatives of the Village of Larchmont and the Larchmont Environmental Committee, Westchester County, Sustainable Westchester, AGZA, QCi and neighboring community municipal leaders, friends and sustainability advocates attended the ribbon-cutting event.
The Village of Larchmont, Mayor Walsh and its Environmental Committee acknowledged the extraordinary effort of the collective community in making this initiative happen. County Legislator Catherine Parker and Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability, Peter McCartt spoke about the commitment the County intends to make to foster wider adoption of sustainable landscaping practices. Sustainable Westchester’s Executive Director, Nina Orville spoke about how the Village of Larchmont’s undertaking will serve as the model for other municipal action and has committed through its partnership with AGZA and QCi to bring this climate action solution to other municipalities.
The Town of Rye, Supervisor, Debbie Reisner, was on hand to present a proclamation to the Village of Larchmont, which stated in part “…in recognition of the Village of Larchmont and its leadership for its commitment to sustainability and protection of our ienvironment and the purposeful work promoting environmental preservation throughout the community…”
Austin Acocella, Supervisor of ACL Property Maintenance, the contractor for maintenance of the Larchmont village parks, spoke of his experience in the practical application of sustainable landscaping. A demonstration from Mean Green Mowers’ Zach Mersch showed how state-of-the-art electric landscaping equipment can be effective, efficient and make a significant positive environmental impact through the reduction of harmful toxic emissions.
Conceived by AGZA in Los Angeles, CA, Green Zones are defined properties that model sustainable landscaping practices by using low-impact electric equipment and people-powered tools for routine grounds maintenance. Decreases in greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution are measured on these properties, and successful projects are certified as Green Zones. The first municipal Green Zone was certified in California in 2016; now they are spreading across the US.
Since March 2021, equipment usage and emissions monitoring at Kane Park have been overseen by Dan Mabe, AGZA President, in partnership with Quiet Communities, Inc., a national nonprofit founded by Jamie Banks, PhD, MS, in Lincoln, MA to help communities reduce health and environmental harm from noise and pollution.
“We are thrilled to establish Westchester County’s first AGZA Certified Green Zone at Kane Park with the Village of Larchmont. Larchmont is leading by example and improving the quality of life for village residents. AGZA looks forward to expanding Larchmont’s Green Zone areas and working together to reach out to private gardeners with education and information on how to reduce gas use.” – Dan Mabe, CEO, AGZA
Together with Austin Acocella, they ensured that all Green Zone regulations were met prior to today’s ribbon cutting.
“The AGZA Green Zone at Kane Park will provide a cleaner, quieter, healthier environment for workers, residents, children, and visitors. Noise levels are cut in half and toxic exhaust is eliminated. The Green Zone provides a good example of how electrification benefits the planet. At Kane Park alone, transition away from fossil fuels will reduce carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to planting 47 trees.” – Jamie Banks, Quiet Communities, Inc, Founder
In an Environmental Landscape Footprint (ELF) report which quantifies the reduction in toxic, carcinogenic, greenhouse gas, noise and solid waste emissions, Quiet Communities shared these projected outcomes. Transitioning other areas of the Village will increase those carbon reductions 7.5 times – equivalent to 300 additional trees. If all cities, towns, and villages in Westchester made similar transitions, the carbon reductions would be equivalent to planting nearly 16,000 trees just from transitioning their municipal operations. And, that’s a conservative estimate.
In the Fall of 2020, the Village of Larchmont passed a landmark code, effective January 1, 2022, that entirely bans the use of gas-powered leaf blowers and restricts the use of electric leaf blowers to spring and fall clean-up periods. Larchmont is taking sustainable landscaping several steps further by encouraging mulch mowing; forgoing chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers; and using native trees and plants in landscaping municipal properties. Larchmont’s Green Zone demonstrates that properties can be well-maintained without the use of fossil fuel-powered equipment.
“Larchmont is proud to be a leader in municipal green policy. It is essential that we rapidly change our practices in order to make meaningful progress in mitigating climate change.” – Mayor Lorraine Walsh
In addition to their supervision of the Kane Park Green Zone, AGZA and QCi, offer training and information about best sustainable landscape management practices.
“With AGZA’s guidance, Larchmont looks forward to offering landscapers and residents educational programming and workshops on sustainable landscape maintenance in the coming year.” – Lisa McDonald, Co-Chair, Larchmont Environmental Committee
Supporting the development of the Green Zone demonstration site and the launch event is Sustainable Westchester, the nonprofit consortium of Westchester County dedicated to environmental sustainability through education and clean energy programs and initiatives. Sustainable Westchester‘s vision is that the success of Larchmont’s Green Zone will offer a blueprint and inspire other municipalities to introduce their own Green Zones.
“We congratulate Larchmont for their commitment and hard work in creating Westchester’s first certified ‘ AGZA Green Zone’ that will serve as a countywide model for sustainable and healthier landscaping practices. We are proud to have played a role in helping to facilitate this initiative with the Larchmont community and our partners American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) and Quiet Communities. The Larchmont Green Zone is another example of the important work by Westchester municipalities and their dedicated environmental committees and volunteers. We look forward to using this model to help lead the way to greater adoption countywide.” – Neha Dhanik, Program Director, Sustainable Westchester
