NATURALLY, WE’RE INTERESTED IN A GREENER WORLD.

Chalet supports environmental causes within the green industry and strives to become a leader in sustainability. Examples of environmentally friendly Chalet initiatives include:

CLEAN AIR

• Sells hundreds of thousands of trees and plants each year.
• Pick up and chips customers' Christmas trees.

Benefits

• An acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people a year.
• Trees save energy by cooling buildings by up to twenty percent.
  
• Trees improve water quality by filtering rainwater. They also provide protection from floods and reduce storm runoff.
• Trees stabilize soil and prevent erosion.
• Trees provide homes and shelter for wildlife and are central to balanced ecosystems.

ENERGY SAVINGS

• Chalet is an Illinois Certified Green Fleet company, having converted its 57 diesel trucks to bio-diesel and its 45 gasoline vehicles to E85 (ethanol based fuel).
• Hand water vs. overhead sprinklers.
• Switched computers to energy-saving LED system.
• Re-lamped Chalet's offices saving ½ the energy from 1,000 fixtures.
  

Benefits

• Ethanol is 100% rg our dependence on foreign oil and reducing our trade deficit.
• Ethanol reduces environmental pollution and is non-carcinogenic.
• Biodiesel, also renewable, reduces exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide by 12-48 percent.
• Ethanol and Biodiesel are Biofuels. Biofuels support local farmers.

RECYCLING

• 200 tons of paper/cardboard per year
• 20 tons of steel per year
• 1500 gallons of oil per year
• 600 tires per year
• Composts plant material waste (separated from other garbage to cut down landfill waste)
• Office paper, plastic, cans etc., as well as poly pipe and other plastics

Benefits:

• Every ton of recylced office paper saves 24 trees, keeps 6 lbs. of pollutants from the atmosphere.
• Every ton of recycled steel saves 2,500 lbs of iron ore, 1400 lbs of coal and 120 lbs of limestone. The savings of one pound of recycled steel can power a 60-watt light bulb for more than a day.
• Every gallon of recycled oil produces the same amount of motor oil as 42 gallons of crude oil and requires 1/3 less energy. Motor oil never wears out; like glass and aluminum, it is eternally recyclable.
• Recycling tires reduces landfills with this almost non-biodegradable material.
• Every ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 1000 to 2000 gallons of gasoline.
• Composting reduces landfill waste, which produces methane and leachate formation; it can remediate contaminated soil by binding with heavy metals and treating VOC's; it reduces the need for water, fertilizers and pesticides, and it enriches the soil.

ORGANIC OPTIONS

• Chalet has converted the majority of our Soil and Turf Management and Maintenance clients to complete organic care and solutions.
• Sells and uses earth-friendly solutions for gardening.
• Composts virtually all of its plant material waste.
• Invests time and money towards staff awareness and education.
• Was a sponsor of the 2007 Cool Globe exhibit in downtown Chicago.

GREEN GARDENING PRACTICES

Check out Chalet's lectures and events, which often feature this topic.