
Making the most of weather data and forecasts in landscape maintenance
Landscape maintenance professionals' livelihoods are more beholden to the weather than most – when you're working in nature, you have to abide by its rules.
Another scorching summer in most of Europe – and a rather wet one for the rest – has once again created a tumultuous season for the landscaping industry. And while this season's dramatic droughts and rainfall can be partly attributed to the temporary El Niño weather phenomenon, we're all aware that climate change is creating a rather more permanent shift towards extreme weather.
So how can you prepare for weather events once considered extreme to become entirely expected, and what can you do to help mitigate your impact on the environment? We take a look at some simple steps you can take to protect your business and the environment around you.
Anything that has a noticeable impact on the environment is inevitably going to have consequences for the landscaping services industry. Rising temperatures across the world are set to change the way landscapers work.
These are the effects of climate change you can expect to see more regularly:
So what can you do to prepare? Here are a handful of things you can do to mitigate risk and protect your business:
Change doesn't happen overnight, but small steps in the right direction can help. Becoming more environmentally friendly doesn't need to mean investing tens of thousands into purchasing a whole new set of equipment: for most people, this is beyond what is feasible for their business.
While incorporating electrical-powered equipment into parts of your kit can certainly help reduce your individual emissions, there are other considerations. Corded solutions require mains power near the job, and while battery adds convenience, there are cost and disposal issues to weigh up.
For more intensive mowing, there are currently few cost-effective alternative power options. In large-scale commercial turfcare, petrol or diesel internal combustion engines are still the solution able to provide the required power over extended operating hours.
Although a truly carbon neutral solution for machinery across the landscaping industry is yet to be defined, significant strides continue to be made. We're already seeing advancements in electrical battery technology and through the development of internal combustion engines using alternative fuels, including biofuels, hydrogen-based e-fuels and even hydrogen itself.
Despite this, there are still small ways you can mitigate your impact now, without great expense, even if you have power-intensive landscaping requirements. These are a handful of changes you can make to start reducing your environmental impact:
As we see the average temperature rise year after year, it's important to prepare for the future. It's impossible to avoid talk of climate change in the landscaping industry; it shouldn't be ignored in any case, as you need to keep up to date and aware to protect your business.
Preparing your business and mitigating your impact doesn't need to be a huge, expensive change. Many professionals need a power level from their equipment that is hard to find with a battery; by making small changes, you can start on the path to becoming more sustainable without sacrificing the viability of your business.
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Landscape maintenance professionals' livelihoods are more beholden to the weather than most – when you're working in nature, you have to abide by its rules.
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A scorching summer has left grass across Europe a singed and sickly yellow, in what has been one of the hottest years on record. It’s apparent that the seasons and weather patterns in Europe are changing, for better or worse, and it is affecting lives and livelihoods across the continent.