big after all, especially for homeowners with healthy lawns.
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact of human activities on the
environment. It is measured in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases
produced in units of carbon dioxide. According to various studies, the
typical American homeowner creates about 20-22 tons of CO2
every year. Everyone wants to be m ore eco-friendly, but may not be sure
how to reduce his or her environmental impact. The fact is, your
backyard can be a valuable environmental asset and actually can reduce
the size of your carbon footprint.
There is ample research to support the concept of "carbon
sequestration," the process by which carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere is absorbed by trees, plants and crops
through photosynthesis and stored as carbon in roots, tree trunks,
branches, foliage and soil. Organizations such as NASA and the U.S.
Department of Energy support this claim. The DOE website describes
carbon sequestration as "...one
of the most promising ways for reducing the buildup of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere."
"Grass plantings are among the most efficient
ecosystems for tying up atmospheric CO2,"
< br>explained Kirk Hurto, vice president for technical services at TruGreen,
the nation's largest lawn care provider. "This
is because the rich, fibrous root system of grass plants and the
associated soil bacteria help recycle carbon through the environment.
Prudent use of fertilizers helps grow healthy grass and enrich your lawn's
ability to sequester carbon dioxide. The bottom line is, grass is good
for the environment."
Beyond growing grass, homeowners can further reduce their http://www.gardenguides.com/ carbon
footprint in other ways. Some suggestions:
Use electric-powered hand tools. Electric leaf blowers, string
trimmers, edgers and mowers are more environmentally friendly than
gas-powered devices. They are, however, less convenient for homeowners
with large lawns, so if you Sprinkler Syst em Installation Greenville must use gasoline-powered equipment, keep
the motors tuned properly and your cutting blades sharp.
Avoid over-watering. Lawns are usually more drought-tolerant
than you may expect. Water as recommended by your lawn care
professional or when grass shows signs of stress -
the color changes to blue-green and when the grass fails to spring
back quickly after you step on it, and water before 10 a.m. to reduce
evaporate. Use soaker hoses to spot water shrubs, flowers and trees.
Apply fertilizers and herbicides properly. If you are unsure
about fertilizer and herbicide applications, consult a lawn care
professional or your local Cooperative Extension Service.
Most homeowners are good stewards of the environment. They enjoy nature
and work hard to create a beautiful natural environment around their
home. The grass, flowers, shrubs and trees they plant create ox ygen,
fight erosion and provide a natural filter for the environment. If you
have a nice, healthy lawn take pride in the contribution you're
making to Mother Earth.
About TruGreen
TruGreen is the world's largest lawn and
landscape company, serving more than 3.4 million residential and
commercial customers across the United States with lawn care, tree and
shrub care, and landscaping services. As the current industry leader,
TruGreen continues to pioneer the development of new technology for lawn
care, and devotes substantial resources to continually evaluate new
products and equipment. TruGreen is a member of the ServiceMaster Family
of Brands, which also includes TruGreen LandCare,
Terminix, American Home Shield,
InStar, ServiceMaster Clean,
Merry Maids, Furniture Medic,
and AmeriSpec. For more information, go to www.servicemaster.com.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080422005325/en/Carbon-Footprint-Lawn
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