Guide to Going Green - RYCO Landscapingrycolandscaping.com/wp-content/resources/guide_to_going_green.pdf · Systems save water and money. It is a common misconception that automatic

Complete Care™ For All Your Landscape Needs 8595 Pyott Road, Suite C Lake in the Hills, IL 60156 PH: 800-955-7926 www.rycolandscaping.com

Guide to Going GreenGuide to Going Green from RYCO Landscapingfrom RYCO Landscaping

Helpful Tips to Make Your Piece of

the Planet a Healthier Place to Live

www.rycolandscaping.com

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Complete Care™ For All Your Landscape Needs 1

A Message from RYCO Landscaping’s President Thank you for your interest in our Guide to Going Green. We’re glad you

share our concern and respect for the environment.

When we began our landscaping company over 12 years ago, we decided that an

important part of our mission as a company was to be “stewards of the

environment”. Sustainable landscapes and environmentally-friendly practices have

been a part of RYCO Landscaping from the very beginning.

Whether it is using cleaner burning-fuel in our equipment, recycling, composting,

helping to conserve water, online bill payment to save paper, helping our

customers conserve our natural resources, or wetland restoration, RYCO is

dedicated to doing its part in making this a healthier planet for everyone.

We hope you will find this guide useful.

With kind regards,

Ryan Taheny, President

RYCO Landscaping, Inc.


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Conserve Water

Create a rain garden. If you have a spot in your yard where water seems to stand after a rainfall, consider a rain garden to clean water as it infiltrates into the ground. They have been growing in popularity as a way to capture water and filter it before the run-off carries debris and contaminants to nearby wetlands, lakes, and rivers. Permeable pavers are another solution that is becoming more popular.

Systems save water and money. It is a common misconception that automatic irrigation systems are wasteful. If used properly, automatic irrigation systems can promote water conservation. If installed and programmed properly, automatic irrigation systems can even save you money and help in water conservation. Dead lawn grass and plants need to be replaced, and that can be expensive. But the savings from automatic irrigation systems can go beyond that. Watering with a hose or with an oscillator wastes water. Neither method targets plant roots with any significant degree of precision. Automatic irrigation systems can be programmed to discharge more precise amounts of water in a targeted area, which promotes water conservation.

Evaluate your irrigation system. Simple steps may help you to eliminate wasted or misdirected water. Repairs and adjustments to the watering schedule can also help to minimize water consumption.

Maintain automatic irrigation systems. How you set and maintain them can greatly improve watering efficiency:

• Have a professional test, repair, and adjust your system annually.

• Inspect the system while operating once a month – look for leaks or heads that are plugged or misdirected.

• Install a rain shutoff device to prevent excessive watering.

• Adjust the watering schedule at least once a month through the season – plants need a lot less water in May and September than they do in July and August.

Water early. Always water the lawn during the earliest hours of the day, when the temperature is cooler and the wind is moderate. This minimizes water evaporation.

Check sprinklers. For proper water distribution, make sure sprinklers are not misdirecting water on the sidewalk, home or on the street.

OUTDOORS: Tips for Greener Living


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Check for drips and leaks. Drippy hoses, pipes and faucets contribute to excessive water waste. Always check for all sources for leaks.

Consider a porous design for your garden path. This allows water to reach the underlying soil and replenish groundwater.

Use Native Plants

Plant perennials instead of annuals. Focus on native vegetation choices, including drought tolerant plantings. Native species, once established, require less water, fertilizers and pesticides. They are also good food sources for native birds, and butterflies.

Save Energy

Insulate your home with foundation plantings. Evergreen and deciduous shrubs and vines planted along a wall or corners of your house can help to insulate the home and reduce heat loss.

Block cold winds. Adding trees and shrubs to walls and berms or adding a fence, especially on the north or northwest corner of your property, can help stop cold winds that rob your home of heat. For maximum protection,

place windbreaks away from your home at a distance of two to five times the mature height of the trees.

Plant trees to save energy. Carefully located trees can reduce cooling costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, properly placed trees can help save up to 25 percent of household energy used for cooling. Shade walls or windows with low-growing trees that will be at least 10 feet taller than the window, and ones that will fit when planted within 20 feet of the window without touching the home. Where to locate trees? The top priority is to shade west-facing windows. Plant your trees due west. If shading east-facing windows, plant trees due east.

Made in the shade. Don’t forget to shade your air conditioner. This can lower air temperatures and help it run more efficiently, but be careful not to block air circulation.

Light it right. Sensors, which turn on lights only when needed, are ideal for outdoors. Solar-powered outdoor lights are an energy-free option.


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Lighting

Check lights. Identify frequently used light fixtures that use incandescent bulbs. Order fluorescent replacement bulbs.

Lights off. Turn off the lights when you aren’t using them and reduce your direct lighting energy use by 45 percent.

Go fluorescent. Replace regular incandescent bulbs and fixtures with Energy Star–qualified compact fluorescent lights. CFLs cast a warmer glow than the older type of fluorescent bulbs. While costlier than regular bulbs, they use 70 percent less energy and last much longer (10,000 hours, compared with 750). NEVER throw away CFLs – they contain toxic mercury. Recycle bulbs at local IKEA stores, Ace Hardware or True Value Hardware stores. Visit www.Earth911.org for more options.

Smart savings. Install dimmers on all bulbs to save energy and extend their life. Timers work well for front-door and security-related lights.

Try LEDs. Though they cost more than CFLs, LED lights use even less energy and last even longer. An LED light bulb can reduce energy consumption by 80-90% and last around 100,000 hours.

Home

Use “recyclable” napkins. Trade in paper napkins for cloth napkins. They can be used over and over again.

Use natural cleaners. Make your own less toxic cleaning alternatives using baking soda, soap and vinegar.

Paint safely. When painting, look for paint that is low VOC (volatile organic compounds). Several manufacturers now offer VOC paints and they don’t leave that paint fume smell!

Clear the air. Open the doors and windows to let the fresh air in. Indoor air quality is often worse than the air outside. Open doors and windows daily to circulate fresh air in and germs and smells out.

INDOORS: Tips for Greener Living


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Energy

Check the temperature setting on your water-heater. Reduce the setting to 120°F (typically the “warm” setting; or halfway between the low and medium settings), if it is not already set to that temperature. Consider a tankless water heater when it is time to replace your current one.

Check your thermostat settings. During the heating season, set the thermostat lower, especially at night or when rooms are unoccupied. During the cooling season, set the temperatures higher. If you have a programmable thermostat you can automate the daily settings.

Two degrees of savings. A few degrees can make all the difference in your energy savings and your wallet. In the summer raise your thermostat two degrees. In the winter lower your thermostat two degrees. Each degree you turn down the heat saves 3 percent of heating costs, while each degree you raise the temperature of your air conditioner saves 3-4 percent of cooling costs. By changing the temperature by 2 degrees all year, you can save about 2,000 pounds of CO2 a year.

Use your fan. Use a ceiling fan to cool off a room or house. It consumes as little energy as a 60-watt bulb, which is about 98 percent less energy than most central air conditioners.

Regulate temperature. Install a programmable thermostat to better regulate the temperature in your house through the day and night. Remember to recycle your old, mercury containing thermostats!

Look for efficiency. When replacing an appliance, be sure to look for one that is more energy efficient. Always look for the ENERGY STAR symbol and compare water and energy usage to ensure you get the best product and environmental savings to suit your needs.

Water

Check showerheads and faucets. Determine whether any of your showerheads are models that use more than 2.5 gallons per minute. If so, order low-flow showerheads. Similarly, verify that your bathroom and kitchen water faucets have aerators. Order an aerator for each faucet that does not have one and that can accommodate one. These steps will

reduce your use of hot water – and your use of energy to heat that water.

Avoid unnecessary running water. The average faucet releases about three gallons of water a minute, so turn off the water faucet when shaving or brushing your teeth.


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Run full loads. Use your dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full. Try to avoid small, partial loads.

Thaw wisely. Thaw food in the refrigerator or microwave instead of using running water.

Limit use of garbage disposal. Compost food scraps instead of using your garbage disposal. You’ll save gallons of water every time and have a great soil amendment for your garden. Reducing or eliminating the use of a garbage disposal can greatly improve the performance and life of your septic field.

Sweep instead. Clean your driveway or sidewalk with a broom instead of hosing it down with water. You’ll save at least 80 gallons of water every time.

Appliances and Electronics

Check the settings on your appliances. Where the option is available – and is not already selected -- select the energy-saving setting on your refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and other major appliances.

Turn off appliances that you are not using. Switch off TVs, computers, lights, etc. that are not being used and unplug items on “standby” (that use electricity even when not being used), including TVs, video and audio systems, computers, and chargers (for cell-phones and other electronic equipment).

Save on laundry. Switch to cold water washing and save 80 percent on energy used for laundry and save an estimated $60 a year. Hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer and save 700 pounds of CO2 a year.

Consider donations. Donate working electronics to charities or school programs; resell or refurbish them. Donating electronics and appliances helps keep them out of landfills.

Refill print cartridges. Refill or recycle your inkjet or toner cartridges.

Choose the right appliance for the job. Electric kettles use less energy than stovetop ones. A toaster oven uses up to half the energy of a conventional electric oven. An electric slow cooker makes soups and stews using less wattage than a stove.


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Plastic and Paper

Use reusable bags. When going to the store, consider bagging your own groceries in cloth, reusable bags. Many stores sell reusable bags and charge to provide plastic grocery bags.

Recycle plastic. If you decide to use plastic bags, remember to recycle them. Thousands of locations are available across the country—use Earth 911 to locate a recycling location near you!

Pay bills online. Save paper, time and postage; pay your bills online.

Consider e-mail greetings. As the price of paper cards and postage increases, consider emailing e-cards. There are lots of fun and environmentally-friendly e-cards and options on the Internet.

Use both sides. When printing documents, print on both sides of paper. You can cut your paper consumption in almost half.

E-mail when you can. E-mail documents and information instead of printing and mailing them.

Check paper content. Buy recycled, post-consumer content paper for your printer. Most local office supply stores offer a growing selection of environmentally-friendly papers.

Avoid hardcopy. Save documents on your computer or on a disk instead of a printed copy in your filing cabinet.


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U.S. Green Building Council “16 Ways to Green Your Home” https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2121 U.S. Department of Energy “A Consumer’s Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy” https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2121 Green Home Guide www.greenhomeguide.com OurEarth.org A website designed to make it easier for people to find environmental information. http://www.ourearth.org/ HGTV Green Home 2009: http://www.hgtv.com/green-home/index.html The Irrigation Association http://www.irrigation.org EPA WaterSense Program http://www.epa.gov/watersense Permeable Paving Stones: allow water to permeate and directly enter the ground, thereby reducing the negative effects of run-off on local watersheds, and ultimately the lakes, rivers and seas downstream. http://www.belgard.biz/environmental-pavers.htm http://www.paveloc.com/pages/permeable.html VERSA-Green™ Plantable Wall System http://www.versa-lok.com/versa-green/default.htm Millenia Wall Solutions: Millenia units are fabricated in 100 percent pre-consumer recycled polymeric resins. When used instead of concrete blocks, Millenia Wall Solutions reduces the environmental impact of retaining walls by 55 percent – including a 65 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.milleniawalls.com/default.aspx Field Turf Artificial Turf: Installation of a FieldTurf field eliminates the use of harmful pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, while at the same time, removes over 40,000 tires from landfill sites. http://www.fieldturf.com/index.cfm

www.rycolandscaping.com 800-955-7926

Resources for Greener Living

Architectural Planning & Design • Design Services • Digital Landscape Design • Architectural Digital Rendering • Landscape Renovation

Construction & Installation • Hardscapes • Plantscapes • Site Grading, Drainage • Erosion Control • Water Features & Pools • Field Turf© Synthetic Grass

Lighting & Irrigation

• Outdoor Lighting • Security Lighting • Irrigation Systems

Lawn Care & Maintenance • Mowing & Maintenance • Spring/Fall Clean-up • Fertilization • Weed Control • Trees & Shrubs • Disease & Pest Control

Snow & Ice Management • Full Service • Per Plow • Seasonal Contract

Power Washing • Industrial Quality • Hot, Cold or Steam

We’re doing our part to help keep America green and conserve natural resources. By using pollution-reducing E85 flex fuel and cleaner-burning biodiesel fuels, recycling yard materials and paper products, conserving water and much more,RYCO cares for the environment.

RYCO CARESAbout the Environment

Call today to set up a no-obligationconsultation or visit our Design Showroom

8595 Pyott Road, Suite CLake in the Hills, IL 60156

(800) 955-7926www.rycolandscaping.com

This brochure is printed on (speci�c copy about the recycled/FSC-certi�ed paper to go here).©2008 RYCO Landscaping. All rights reserved.

RYCO

Landscaping’s Listen and Respond Approach

RYCO

Landscaping’s Listen and Respond A

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YOURLANDSCAPING

NEEDS

• Highest Quality Materials & Workmanship

• Detailed Pre-Construction Meeting On Site

• Phased Construction Plans With Budgeted Costs

• Schedule Customer Meetings Throughout Project To Ensure End Results

• We Call Utilities (J.U.L.I.E) and Obtain Necessary Permits

• Trained Team Members

Construction& Installation

• State Certified Landscape Architects

• Computer Generated Landscape Design

• Warranty on Plant Material

• Indoor and Outdoor Showroom with Displays

• Inspected & Hand Tagged Plant Material

• Consultation With On-Staff Horticulturalist

ArchitecturalPlanning & Design

• Lawn Care, Fertilization, Trees and Shrubs, Irrigation, Snow and Ice Management

• Personal Customer Service Representative

• Free Consultation & Estimates

• Uniformed Employees

• Mobile Contact with Foremen

• Certified Staff

Lawn Care& Maintenance

• Thorough Understanding of Customers’ Needs and Budget

• Responsive Customer Communication

• English Speaking Foremen

• Up-to-Date Progress Reports

• Full Liability, Auto and Workman’s Compensation Insurance Coverage

ProfessionalConsultation

Why ChooseRYCO Landscaping?As a full-service landscaper, RYCO has designed the Complete Care Cycle™ to meet all of your landscaping and maintenance needs—even Lawn Care, Fertilization, Snow and Ice Management and Power Washing.

Complete Care Cycle™

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Guide to Going Green - RYCO Landscapingrycolandscaping.com/wp-content/resources/guide_to_going_green.pdf · Systems save water and money. It is a common misconception that automatic