Landscape Architect Articles

Environmentally Aware11-04-14 | News

Environmentally Aware
A Look at Some of the Latest Eco-friendly Products

Stating that it can reduce watering requirements by 50 percent and protect turf from drought-related stresses and disease, Hydretain is a liquid blend of hygroscopic and humectant compounds formulated to convert subsurface water vapor into plant-usable water droplets, allowing plants to make use of moisture that would otherwise be lost to evaporation. www.ecologel.com

To make sure their extensive fleet of equipment and vehicles are looking good when they arrive at a job, and that the yards and driveways of their clients are stain-free before workers depart, Pupkar Property Maintenance traded in harsh cleaners/degreasers for Mean Green Industrial Strength Cleaner & Degreaser, a blend of biodegradable detergents that, according to the full-service tree care company, cut through grease and oil without harming the environment or employees. www.meangreendegreaser.com

With Optimizer Sweet Iron™, a water-soluble form of iron with a complex natural polysaccharide (sugar), but with no urea, turfgrass is able to acquire iron through both foliar and root absorption at application rates 10 times lower than traditional iron micronutrient products. www.utaarmortech.com

Coldspring, a quarrier and fabricator of natural stone, has teamed with green building pioneer Jason F. McLennan to launch Earth Measure – a new product line of deep green reclaimed stone comprised entirely of stone by-products, which are typically ground up as aggregate or discarded as waste. Using the company's patented process, the manufactured stone line has a very low embodied energy and is manufactured with zero chemicals. www.coldspringusa.com

WELD-ON® solvent cements, primers and cleaners are used to prepare and join PVC, CPVC, and ABS pipe, valves and fittings in residential, commercial and industrial applications. All meet the most stringent VOC emission limits in the United States – Rule 1168/316A, established by California's South Coast Air Quality Management District. www.weldon.com

Lightcraft Outdoor Environments offers professional-grade LED solar flood lighting fixtures in 2-watt and 10-watt models. Both come with long lead wires for optimum position and solar collection. www.lightcraftoutdoor.com

Environmental Lights' pixel control LED Super Flat rope lights are UL-Listed and RoHS compliant, able to be cut every 125mm, fully controllable via DMX, and have IP65 waterproofing. www.environmentallights.com

Powered by an advanced 56V lithium-ion battery system, Ego's mowers, blowers, string trimmers, hedge clippers and chainsaws boast runtimes as long as an hour and charge times as short as 30 minutes. Popular Mechanics says the mower's, ''power, cut quality, quietness, portability, and compactness all point to a well engineered machine.'' www.egopowerplus.com