AMERICAN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT CORPORTATION

MEMORANDUM
To:

Ms. Kimberly Sullivan

President, Environmental Impact Development Committee

From:
Lori Schmalz
Development Assistant
DATE:
RE:

March 6, 2015

Status Review and Recommendation Report:

Earth-Friendly Landscaping and Grounds keeping

The Environmental Impact Development Committee, put together to study

environmental concerns and produce a set of effective recommendations to
American Systems Development Corporation (ASDC) management. ASDC
understands that some of the business functions and upkeep of the facilities
and grounds, over the ten years we have been in business in Vancouver,
Washington, may have created some negative effects on our property, the
surrounding communities and environment. ASDC is focused on working
towards developing a plan and policies that will enhance a greener business
environment and will support a earth-friendly and healthier workplace,
environment and community.
The Environmental Impact Development Committee has requested this
informational report and recommendations. This report will determine what
the current ASDC practices with landscaping and grounds keeping processes
are; what effects they may have on the environment and community, and
alternatives that could be effective. This report also identifies what green
business environments are and offers options to achieve a more
environmentally friendly facility, surrounding property, and business
practices.
What does Environmentally Friendly mean? Green, nature-friendly, ecofriendly, environment-friendly and environmentally friendly are all phrases
used to state the same claim. They are marketing claims referring to a good,
service or law that is used in all guidelines and policy development within an
organization that will provide a minimal, reduced, or no harm at all, effect on
the local community, ecosystems and surrounding environment.
Businesses today aim to produce goods at a low cost while maintaining high
product and service quality, staying competitive in the global marketplace,
and meeting consumer preferences towards a more environmentally friendly
community business. To help businesses meet these challenges, the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages businesses to

incorporate environmental considerations into their design processes and
facility policies using the EPAs Design for the Environment (DfE) guidelines.
The benefits of incorporating the Design for the Environment guidelines
include: cost savings, reduced business and environmental risks, expanded
business and market opportunities, and meeting or exceeding the
environmental regulations (Design for the Enviornment, 2008).
DfE promotes a global movement to improve product designs and to
minimize the health and environmental impacts on our local communities.
DfE strategies aim to improve technology and design tactics to expand the
scope of products and quality of services. DfE takes into consideration the
entire life-cycle of the product or process, while focusing on minimizing the
environmental and economic cost to businesses and consumers (Luttrop &
Lagerstedt, 2011).
American Systems Development Corporations current status: ASDC
has a long history of pride in the lush green lawns that
have spanned the four acres of the property. The
property has only three large old growth trees that are
on the east side of the property, at the bottom of the
hill. Keeping this large amount of lawn green and
pristine has required the use of varied chemicals
across the ten years. Those same chemicals that have
made the lawns lush and green can be dangerous to
you, your family, pets, neighbors, and the environment.
ASDC has historically used multiple herbicides/pesticides and lawn care
chemicals that now have known damaging effects to the environment. The
pesticides and herbicides get into all systems and have damaging effects
with toxicity and illness. Maintaining a focus on making the necessary
changes to our procedures and policies around how we use chemicals and
herbicides and carry on business practices that will be beneficial to our
surrounding environment is important to the values of our business and the
local community members.
Table #1 below lists chemicals previously put to use, their known effects on
the environment, animals and humans, and recommendations for future use
of like chemicals. Alternatives are listed that are environment friendly and
promote a more earth-friendly business and property.
LAWN CARE CHEMICALS, HERBICIDES, AND FERTILIZERS
NAME
Aminopyralid

CATEGO
RY
Broadleaf
herbicide

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
Impacts natural growth of plants
Does not compost or breakdown in digestive

USE YES/NO
Current use
Yes

systems
Imprelis

Broadleaf
herbicide

Impedes the natural growth of plants and

flowers
Dangerous to pets

Compost materials
with manure non
organic

Mulch

Can contain chemical residues from manure

used

Fertilizer- Organic

Plant/gras
s nutrient

Organic tree mulch

Mulch

Made from biodegradable materials blended

No known negative effects to the
environment
No known effects, will protect trees and
shrubs from pests, heat, cold and rotting

Grass clippings

Mulch
Nutrients

No known effects, as long as all

fertilizers/mulch are free

Future use No
Current use
Yes
Future use No
Current use
Yes
Future use No
Current No
Future Yes
Current use
No
Future use
Yes
Current use
No
Future use Yes

Knowing this information and how it will affect the future, gives great
incentive to change the use of pesticides and herbicides to a more earthfriendly and natural material content. The effects on the environment will
decrease quickly and considerably. Scientist have determined that within one
year of using organic and natural materials to care for grounds, there is a
65% decrease in the environmental effects to the earth, local water, animals,
and people. Over a ten-year period, there is a significant change in the
environment, whereas the trees will remain greener for a longer period of
time, the bulbs and other perennials will thrive and become larger each year,
the shrubbery will remain healthy, strong and dense. All of these factors will
benefit the environment, because they offer the natural setting for all things
that are native to our area to thrive. (DOE staff, 2011)
Although the lawns are nice and clean looking now, they pose many
problems with maintenance, water content and decreasing broadleaf disease
and insects. To make the acreage more self-sustainable, it would benefit in
the planning to look at including options of bringing in native grasses trees,
shrubs, and flowering perennials.
Adding a midsized pond in the lower end of the property would contain all
excess water run-offs during the rainy season and provide for animals to
access water as needed. The pond, flanked in native trees, shrubs and plants
that thrive in water areas provides beautiful earth tones and bright colors
around the pond. This makes an inviting place to take a walk. Placing a
variety of native trees and shrubbery around the building areas would help
with hotter and colder temperatures year round. Placing a larger set of trees
and shrubbery at the top of the hill area would block a large amount of the

winds from the river. Many of these benefits will decrease

ongoing business costs.

In addition to adding natural plant based organic

materials, it is important to bring in the natural pest
controls of native animals. Both birds
and bats will provide excellent pest
control with mosquitos, flies, and
other small insects. The use of
ladybugs is important to add to the
environment for the health of the
flowering plants. Although some
people are adverse to adding bees to their landscape,
the bumblebee offers natural pollination of flowering
plants and a decrease in unwanted bugs and does not have a stinger.

First, I recommend that ASDC institute policies that immediately halt the use
of all dangerous pesticides, herbicides and chemicals. After speaking with
the landscape company owner, he is willing to try to use non-toxic chemicals
on the grounds. The concern remains that they carry the toxic chemicals that
have been used, and that only landscape businesses, licensed to use, can
have. These would be stored in the same area as the non-toxic ones for our
grounds. ASDC may need to change providers. There are three
environmentally friendly local providers willing to look at the property and
provide an estimate for lawn care without harsh and toxic pesticides and
herbicides.
Second, I would ask the committee to consider instituting a landscape design
plan that is more earth friendly by using the guidelines in the DfE plans. It
would help to decrease the grass by two thirds, and add native plants, trees
and shrubs that will enhance the beauty and natural surroundings of the
space. This pristine environment will be inviting to the workers and
community with natural walkways and sitting areas added to enjoy the pond
area and the trees and foliage.
Finally, I think this office may produce a waste that can be recycled to help
with the landscaping plan. The reams of paper thrown out after use could be
composted, then returned to the earth.

Additionally, I have gathered listings of native plants to the Clark County

area, the Design for the Environment plans and other documentation about
alternatives to enhance our earth friendliness, should you or the committee
need any additional information.

Below are additional pictures of native plants and trees, they are suggested
for the landscape project and will fit nicely on the property and enhance the
earth friendliness of the grounds.

Bigleaf Maple
Lady Fern
Wild Ginger

American Wintercress
Spring Beauties

Common Camas

Oregongrapes

Sedge

English Daisies

Works Cited
Luttrop, C., & Lagerstedt, J. (2011). EcoDesign and The Ten Golden Rules: generic
advice for merging environmental aspects into product development. Journal
of Cleaner Production, 1396-1408.
Staff, DOE (2011). Organic Materials Management. Retrieved 2 16, 2015, from
Washington State Department of Ecology:
http:www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/organics
unknown. (2008, August 20). Design for the Enviornment. Retrieved from EPA.gov:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_for_the_Environment