Earth Steward Program

Reducing Environmental Impact
Athens Services

Our Earth Steward program recognizes exceptional Athens Services employees and clients who have taken unique steps to reduce their environmental impact.

Recognition:

Our current Earth Steward is an Athens employee who created a sustainable lawn and edible garden at their home. She removed her 1,600 sq. ft. front lawn and sprinkler system in exchange for a more eco-friendly and water-wise choice. With her new system in place, her water usage and bill decreased by over half!  Over the course of 30 days, she completely transformed her front lawn for the price of $1,200… which is nearly half of what she was quoted just to put in new grass alone.

What steps did you take to make your property more sustainable?

“I replaced my front lawn with a sustainable landscape design, got rid of my sprinkler system, put in drought tolerant plants, and planted an edible garden. We first conducted preventative care by digging down 3 feet deep and removing roots, rocks and weeds. We then used a permeated tarp on the soil and decorated the area with lava rocks and recycled marble chips from demolition jobs. We made sure all the products used were nontoxic. We also planted an edible garden with bell peppers, jalapeños, serranos, tomatoes, mint, sage, rosemary, cobra peppers and more.”

What were the incentives?

I no longer need a gardener, which saves me $600 per year. And, by preserving water, I saved a lot of money in the long run. I only water the lawn every five to seven days now, so my water bill was cut in half. Saving water also allows me to take better care of the environment.

What does sustainability mean to you?

It means preserving the future for my kids and knowing our actions have an impact on the future of the planet. It means teaching my children ways to reduce their footprint – simple ideas like not using non-recyclable foam take-out containers or cutting up old clothes for rags.

What’s next?

“I have two goals. First, I want to decrease our electric bill especially with winter coming, so I am looking to get a free LADWP energy audit. Second, I am going to reinvent my 7,000 sq. ft. backyard into a grass-less, drought tolerant oasis decorated with material from local reuse organizations.”

Keep an eye out for future stories about how Athens employees and clients are being exceptional stewards of the environment. Or, if you have a story of your own, contact us!

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