FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Luke Massman-Johnson, AGZA Communications Director, luke@agza.net, (323) 445-1613
AMERICAN GREEN ZONE ALLIANCE AND STIHL INC ESTABLISH A UNIQUE BATTERY ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN
(Los Angeles, CA, June 5, 2019) — American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) is proud to announce a unique collaboration with STIHL Inc. to support our independent nationwide campaign promoting the benefits of battery-electric equipment in professional applications. The new effort pairs STIHL’s industry leading commercial grade battery electric tools with AGZA’s groundbreaking AGZA Green Zone®education and certification programs for sustainable grounds maintenance.
For a decade as the global leader in zero-emission sustainable grounds maintenance strategies, AGZA has been advocating for and supporting the transition from gas to electric operations at schools, universities, sports facilities, golf courses, HOAs, retirement communities, hospitals, hotels, and entire cities. AGZA’s groundbreaking certification programs create and verify AGZA Green Zones®, and educate and certify AGZA Service Professionals.
AGZA Green Zone are a scalable model proven to slash hourly operational costs, reduce noise levels, and completely eliminate smog-forming emissions, toxic particulate matter, and greenhouse gasses from grounds maintenance.
STIHL’s AP line and AGZA Green Zone case studies that feature STIHL equipment can be found here:
• AGZA Approved STIHL AP Line > www.agza.net/agza-approved-stihl
• AGZA STIHL Training Day > www.agza.net/blog/agza-stihl-training
• Electric Equipment Rollout for the City of Ojai AGZA Green Zone > http://bit.ly/AGZA_GZ_OJAI_Equipment_BLOG
• First AGZA Green Zone High School > www.agza.net/agza-gz-ybhs-ceremony
• AGZA Green Zone Kickoff for the City of Fort Collins > www.agza.net/blog/agza-gz-fort-collins-kickoff
• CPRS Award for First AGZA Green Zone City of South Pasadena > www.agza.net/green-zone-city
• First AGZA Green Zone Golf Course > bit.ly/AGZA_GZ_Golf
• First AGZA Green Zone Municipal Park > bit.ly/AGZA_GZ_Park
• What Does It Take to be a Certified AGZA Green Zone? > bit.ly/AGZA_What_Does_It_Take
“It is noteworthy that the clients of most of our major AGZA Green Zones over the past five years have chosen STIHL as their best opportunity to transition from gas to electric while maintaining their professional work loads and aesthetic,” said Luke Massman-Johnson, AGZA’s Communications Director.
American Green Zone Alliance was founded to give clients and crews the most credible advice on which manufacturers and tools are capable of commercial work production, and which can actually replace gas machines. AGZA will showcase the STIHL AP line, along with a select few other brands of AGZA Approved commercial-grade battery-electric equipment, in its advocacy to mayors and city councils, public works departments, sustainability organizations, and academic, municipal, and commercial crews.
“AGZA’s value and credibility depend on our voice remaining absolutely independent,” said Luke. “We test and vet tools from all the top manufacturers ourselves, then put the best in the hands of professional crews in commercial, municipal, and academic settings. We insist on the most candid feedback from operators — both positive and negative. That’s our only guide in determining which brands and tools are truly viable to replace gas machines in large-scale electric operations.”
For over a century, STIHL’s legendary tool performance has made it one of the most respected brands in outdoor power equipment. STIHL was among the first to apply cutting-edge lithium-battery power to a suite of tools that could challenge the performance and work production of gas machines. The 36v AP line of commercial tools pushes the boundaries of battery power, performance and run-times, and secures STIHL’s place as AGZA Approved commercial grade battery electric equipment.
“AGZA gives our full-throated endorsement to the STIHL’s AP line,” Luke continued. “They are among the best of the best in the cordless lawn and garden sector, capable of performing full-time commercial-grade grounds maintenance, and sufficient to replace gas tools for virtually all routine maintenance tasks. If you are considering making the transition to low-noise zero-emissions operations, the tools already exist to get a professional job done, and the AGZA-Approved equipment from STIHL will provide the best possible outcome.”
“For generations, people have trusted STIHL to help maintain the beauty of their land. Now, with the STIHL battery electric options, we are helping preserve natural beauty on a whole new level,” said Roger Phelps, Corporate Communications Manager at STIHL Inc. “Our new relationship with AGZA will help bring additional awareness to communities and landscape professionals about the benefits of commercial-grade battery products to their businesses and the environment.”
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BOILERPLATE
About American Green Zone Alliance
AGZA is a sustainability consultancy for the grounds maintenance industry, and the global leader in now-noise zero-emission land care strategies. Our mission is to transition the entire grounds maintenance industry from noisy highly polluting gas-powered machines to quieter zero-emission electric equipment and sustainable operations. AGZA offers two consulting services: we educate and certify commercial grounds maintenance crews as AGZA Service Pros, and we certify properties maintained with quiet zero-emission battery-electric equipment and hand tools as AGZA Green Zones®. AGZA Green Zones reduce noise pollution, eliminate toxic and carcinogenic emissions, greenhouse gases, solid waste, and soil and water pollution. And by eliminating the expense of gas and oil, and dramatically reducing costs for maintenance and parts, AGZA Green Zones achieve very healthy ROI and significant ongoing profitability over gas operations. AGZA is committed to helping municipalities, schools, commercial property owners, and residents make the transition to sustainable land care quickly, safely, effectively, and profitably. Learn more at AGZA.net.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the number one selling brandof gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America,* as well as the number one selling brand of chain saws in the world. STIHL is also the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment among U.S. landscape professionals.** STIHL products are sold through a network of more than 9,000 authorized local STIHL dealers from coast to coast – not big box stores. Located in Virginia Beach, Va., STIHL Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of the global STIHL Group, exports to over 90 countries around the world; and the majority of STIHL products sold in America are also built in America.*** STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit STIHLusa.com.
*Number one selling brand” is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2018 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers. **Number one selling” claim based on 2007-2018 syndicated Irwin Broh Research of the U.S. professional landscaper market. ***A majority of STIHL gasoline-powered units sold in the United States are built in the United States from domestic and foreign parts and components.
PHOTOS
PHOTO ABOVE (click to enlarge and download)
On April 12th, 2019, the City of Ojai, CA was certified by American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) as the first AGZA Green Zone® City in Ventura County, and the second city-wide AGZA Green Zone in the United States. AGZA and the City have retired all gas-powered machinery used for routine grounds maintenance and replace them with STIHL’s AP line of low-noise zero-emission battery electric equipment. The AGZA Green Zone distinction now protects Ojai’s 52 acres of municipal properties, including all parks and sports fields and city hall, from the consumption, emissions, and waste streams of gas grounds maintenance operations in perpetuity.
PHOTO ABOVE (click to enlarge and download)
As part of the AGZA Green Zone certification for the City of Ojai, AGZA also certified the City’s Public Works grounds maintenance crew as AGZA Service Pros. Collaboration between AGZA and the crew included classroom education, equipment trials from the top battery electric equipment manufacturers, and tool training workshops. In the end the City chose to replace virtually all their gas handheld tools with STIHL’s AP hand tools and a push mower. AGZA helped confirm the quantity and variety of handheld and battery backpacks required to maintain the City’s daily workload, including strategic planning for safe charging and storage facilities. The AGZA Service Pro certification ensures the grounds crews are operating the tools safely and for optimal performance and run time.
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