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OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT DIGITAL 3 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT | LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION | SPORTSTURF | ARBOR AGE www.OutdoorPowerEquipment.com green media TM green on green TM CONTACT GREEN MEDIA ENEWS ONLINE PRINT 20 MARCH 2016 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com deaden their landscapes with rocks, mulch and artificial turf. We know that over time, these actions will lead to detrimental environmental impacts like increased heat island effect, poorer air quality, additional storm runoff, and increased soil erosion — not to mention loss of lifestyle and aesthetic enjoyment. Without green spaces to maintain, use of outdoor power equipment and landscaping services also diminish. THE SOLUTION The Living Landscapes Matter program, launched in the summer of 2015 by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), promotes the benefits of living plants, grasses, shrubs and trees, while demonstrating that it is possible to have a drought-friendly yard. Homeowners and municipalities can have living yards, parks, recreational fields and other community green spaces and IMAGE ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/KEVINSMART ■ BY KRIS KISER As the western part of the United States experiences one of the historically worst droughts (and other parts of the country flood), everyone seems to be pointing fingers to the culprit. Global warming? Natural weather cycle? Population growth? Unfortunately, in the mad dash to deal with extreme weather conditions, the managed landscape has come under attack. Labeled as a "water waster," the environmental, aesthetic and lifestyle benefits that manmade green spaces provide are being discounted, devalued, and undermined by policymakers and concerned citizens. Though well intentioned, these actions have dire consequences. In the rush to save water, damaging programs and policies have been introduced, especially in California, such as rebate programs encouraging people to "rip out" their lawns and to OPEI's Living Landscapes Matter program educates public on benefits of green spaces FEATURE STORY | Environmental Education 20-23 OPE1603 Feature LivingLandscape.indd 20 2/4/16 2:05 PM www.outdoorpowerequipment.com OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT MARCH 2016 21 be good environmental stewards. Dealers, manufacturers, landscape industry professionals and other industry members are invited to access OPEI's growing library of information and resources on the association's stewardship webpage at http://opei.org/ stewardship/. These free resources support you in educating customers and other stakeholders on the environmental and cultural value and benefi ts of a managed green space, removing myths, and arming homeowners and customers against drought-shaming and other acts against having a living landscape. Access these materials and more today: Infographics. "Living Landscapes Matter" is a scientifi c- based infographic (see Figure 1) and "TurfMutt Barks for Living Landscapes" is a fun visual depiction of the environmental benefi ts of landscapes. They are in .jpeg format for easy online distribution via email and social media and for posting on your website. Fact sheets. Share the environmental and lifestyle benefi ts of a living landscape with local media, on your website or blog, and with customers. Blog posts. Customize or post "as is" to your business blog, web page or Facebook page. Some have pre-written tweets to accompany them. Radio interviews. These short audio fi les are perfect for sharing and posting on websites and through social media. Independent resources. These third-party resources and information provide backup and credibility to the scientifi c arguments for living landscapes. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (under independent resources). Fielding questions about appropriate landscape options starts with understanding one's climate zone. This map LANDSCAPES LIVING MATTER Yards provide a safe place for families to gather and for children and pets to play. But did you know these managed landscapes, including your lawn, also provide a host of environmental benefits? For more information, go to: opei.org/stewardship/ Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) Having a lawn and being a good environment steward are not mutually exclusive. Grass is a vital part of our living landscapes that contribute to our communities, our families and our health. So how do we maintain a living landscape – even under drought conditions? Lawn or No Lawn is Not the Question. Choose the right grass for your climate zone and lifestyle. Some – such as buffalo and Bermuda grass – require very little water and survive foot traffic, children's play and pets well. 1 Donʼt overwater. Less water makes grass work harder so roots grow deeper in search of moisture. It then does a better job of trapping carbon and releasing oxygen. 2 Hardscapes, parking lots, driveways and roads turn rainwater into fast-moving, storm water runoff. Grass slows down and absorbs runoff, while also cleansing water of impurities and dust. Rainwater filtered through a healthy lawn can be 10 times less acidic than water running off a hard surface. FILTERS AND CAPTURES RUNOFF Grass dissipates the heat island effect caused by asphalt, concrete and other hardscapes. Lawns can be 31 degrees cooler than asphalt and 20 degrees cooler than bare soil. REDUCES HEAT Lawns are the largest carbon sink in the U.S. They suck up and remove greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Grass sequesters carbon so well, that it outweighs the carbon used for maintaining the lawn by as much as seven-fold. SEQUESTERS CARBON DIOXIDE A turf area of 50' x 50' produces enough oxygen to meet the daily needs of a family of 4. GENERATES OXYGEN Grass, trees, shrubs and other plants provide food and habitat for birds and small mammals. Insects, spiders and worms live among the grass blades and below the surface, supporting wildlife. SUPPORTS BIODIVERSITY Grass controls erosion through its natural, dense and fibrous root system. Without grass, soil erodes into streams and lakes, muddying the waters and limits how sunlight penetrates the water. The nutrients and chemicals carried with soil can cause algae blooms, which steal oxygen from the water and kill fish. CONTROLS SOIL EROSION What are the benefits of a lawn? Grass slows down and absorbs runoff, while also cleansing water of impurities and dust. Rainwater filtered through a healthy lawn can be 10 times less acidic than water running off a hard surface. filtered through a healthy lawn can be 10 times less acidic than water running off a hard surface. Grass controls erosion through its natural, dense and fibrous root system. Without grass, soil erodes into streams and lakes, muddying the waters and limits how sunlight penetrates the water. The nutrients and chemicals carried with soil can cause algae blooms, which steal oxygen from the water and kill fish. Go brown. With less water, grass slows down, goes dormant and turns golden brown. It will "green up" again when the rains return. 3 Diversify. Incorporate native plants with adaptive plants and grasses. Add pollinator plants for local bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other animals and insects. 4 Grass also plays a vital role in capturing dust, smoke particles and other pollutants. Without grass, these pollutants will remain in the air we breathe, resulting in more "code red" air quality days. IMPROVES AIR QUALITY Source: 1. The Lawn Institute, http://www.thelawninstitute.org/pages/environment/benefits-of-lawn/grass-purifies-water/ 2. The Lawn Institute, http://www.thelawninstitute.org/pages/environment/benefits-of-lawn/air-quality-and-turfgrass/ 3. U.S. Department of Agriculture, http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/0223645-evaluation-of-turfgrasses-for-stress-tolerance-in-a-transition-zone-environment.html 4. The Lawn Institute, http://www.scienturficsod.com/growing-great-lawns/lawns-and-the-air-that-we-breathe/ 5. Kansas Green Yards, http://www.kansasgreenyards.org/p.aspx?tabid=35 1 3 4 5 2 FEATURE STORY | Environmental Education Figure 1 20-23 OPE1603 Feature LivingLandscape.indd 21 2/4/16 2:06 PM Content Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) provides independent servicing dealers with the information they need to succeed in today's highly competitive market. Each issue features columns by the editor and an anonymous distributor on trendy topics; the latest industry, financial and distributor news; feature stories on best practices, website solutions, wealth management and more; and in-depth product coverage in the "Equipment Focus" and "Product News" sections. Special Sections Each year, OPE publishes several special sections, beginning with a two-part "Industry Forecasts" series and concluding with pre- and post- coverage of the Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO). Feature Stories In nearly every issue of OPE, we include feature stories on best practices, website solutions, wealth management and other timely topics. Industry and Financial News OPE highlights the industry's top news stories on a wide range of topics, including mergers and acquisitions, expansion and contraction plans, industry accolades, personnel moves, and the latest on the financial front. Equipment and Technology Trends OPE brings dealers the latest equipment and technology trends, so they can make informed decisions on which products to offer their customers. Product Coverage Every month, OPE provides extensive coverage of the hottest products. Columnists In each issue of OPE, Editor Steve Noe shares his thoughts on a hot topic in his "Upfront" column, and an unidentified distributor provides thought- provoking comments, a little satire and wit, and sometimes a challenge or two in the "Anonymous Distributor" column. Distributor News Each issue of OPE features a "Distributor News" section that precedes the "Key Distributors" advertising section. ABOUT US

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