American Green Zone Alliance and STIHL Inc. establish battery electric equipment advocacy campaign

On April 12, 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 the STIHL 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.
On April 12, 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 the STIHL 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.
American Green Zone Alliance
L Stihl Logotype Rgb 2018 Ic 001

American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) and STIHL Inc. have entered into a unique collaboration to support a nationwide campaign promoting the benefits of battery-electric equipment in professional applications. The new effort pairs industry-leading commercial grade STIHL battery 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 Zones 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.

“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 workloads 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,” Massman-Johnson said. "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, the performance of STIHL 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 the brand’s place as AGZA Approved commercial grade battery electric equipment.

"AGZA gives our full-throated endorsement to the STIHL AP line,” Massman-Johnson said. “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.”

“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.”

Companies in this article
Latest