The Southern Landscape Group has taken the necessary steps to become a certified green business through Sustainable Sandhills.

It is the first landscape company to become certified through Sustainable Sandhills, which spans an eight-county region surrounding Fort Bragg.

"Our green business partners are smart business leaders who recognize that customers today are making buying decisions based on sustainability," said Kea Meacham, green business coordinator for Sustainable Sandhills. "By assuming a leadership role, the Southern Landscape Group has committed to reduce waste, promote recycling, become more energy and water efficient, and to purchase eco-friendly products.

"As >a result, they benefit >our whole community by >educating their customers, employees and other businesses about green practices." >

The Southern Landscape Group is a landscape design/build and landscape maintenance firm serving Moore County since 1999. The company began implementing changes in its organization more than a year ago in its desire to become certified, according to company president Billy Gray.

"We realize the impact our industry has on the environment, both good and bad," he said. "We are committed to minimizing the negative impacts that not only our industry has on the environment, but those that are created with operating any business. In addition to reducing waste through our recycling program, we have made several advances in water and energy conservation."

The Southern Landscape Group has decreased its use of gasoline through operating equipment that uses C4 technology. This technology has improved fuel efficiency, which has reduced fuel consumption in those pieces of equipment by 25 percent, a news release said.

It has also purchased a Honda Insight hybrid vehicle to replace a Chevrolet Trailblazer for its landscape designer.

"In addition to helping the environment because of the extremely low emissions, hybrid vehicles have a financial benefit with decreased fuel costs," Gray said. "Aside from the fact it was the right thing to do for the environment, the purchase has been an economically sound investment."

Fuel usage by the driver has decreased 65 percent, resulting in a $522 reduction of fuel cost for this driver during the first four months the hybrid vehicle was in use, according to the release.

The Southern Landscape Group also contracted with Sandhills Energy to install a 4.14KW solar photovoltaic system at its office. This solar energy system uses sunlight to produce electricity in a way that will not harm or pollute the environment, the company said.

All power being produced is sold back to Progress Energy and placed on the grid. In addition to receiving compensation from Progress Energy, NC Greenpower also compensates the company for power being produced. NC Greenpower is a nonprofit program working to encourage the development of renewable energy sources for our state's power supply.

North Carolina law requires that the state generate at least 12.5 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2021.

"The systems we are installing are the most advanced systems on the market and convert 96 percent of the energy produced by the modules into >electricity ready for use on the standard electrical grid," said Ken Bonville, president of Sandhills Energy. "We monitor the systems 24 hours a day and they are warranted for 25 years of power production.

"With a life expectancy of over 35 years, our systems will be a part of our nation's future energy needs, and with the available federal and state tax credits they are fantastic investments that can be paid off after four years."

Patrick Coughlin, president and CEO of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce, says, "We are very pleased to see that the Southern Landscape Group has taken the initiative to become a certified green business. This certification and the practices that the Southern Landscape Group has implemented are just one example of how green initiatives are designed to make businesses more vibrant, on the cutting edge of new and best practices, and ready to compete vigorously - locally and on the world stage. > It is proactive, optimistic - and refreshing."