Climate-Positive: Our Path to a More Sustainable Future

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

Eastern Land Management is committed to providing significant economic benefits through sustainble best practices that improve landscape and ecosystem health, protect and conserve resources, and enhance healthier, higher-performing commercial landscapes.

On approach to 2026–our 50th year in business–we are doubling-down on our commitment to do our part to create a more sustainable,  more environmentally-resilient,  and more climate-positive future.

The path forward 

  • Recruit, train and develop landscape and snow professionals, and technical specialists who support our commitment to sustainability and drive progress on goals.
  • Partner with the commercial real estate (CRE) community to  provide landscape services and nature-based strategies that minimize environmental impacts, support green infrastructure, and harness the unique capacity of landscape to reduce and sequester carbon dioxide.
  • Help our clients in commercial real estate and property and facility management to create sustainable value by conducting business with integrity and a shared commitment to advance climate action goals.
  • Help our commercial real estate clients achieve net zero emission goals through a range of options, including robotics, autonomous mowers, smart technology framework, and alternative fuels.
  • Help commercial real estate clients accelerate its transition to a regenerative economy through our commitment to and use of practices that drive carbon sequestration through soil regeneration, plant and ecosystem health.
  • Help commercial real estate clients achieve a climate-positive profile through ongoing improvements in water conservation, irrigation technology, smart water management, ground water health, green waste composting, integrated pest management, resource conservation, erosion control, improvements in energy efficiency, and the use of green technologies that support green building and LEED initiatives.
  • Help commercial real estate clients benefit from the ‘E’ (environmental) metric in ESG, and derive economic benefits that come from high-performing landscape and grounds management services.

Alliances

Our green framework is anchored by a network of sustainability thought leaders and stakeholders who care about these issues as much as we do.

  • We partner with Aquarion Water Company to increase awareness and approaches to water conservation and drought management.
  • We are Premier Partners with global irrigation technology pioneer Weathermatic.
  • We train with world-class EV manufacturers and sustainable snow and ice consultants.
  • We are EV-certified through the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA).
  • We are active members and leaders of national and local trade associations across the industries we serve, including the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP),  Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA), Building & Office Managers Association (BOMA) Southern Connecticut Chapter and BOMA Westchester County, and the Bridgeport Regional Business Council.
  • We are certified professionals with advanced accreditation from both the Green Industry and Snow & Ice Industry.
  • We have a dedicated sustainable snow/ice and winter operation at our green hub and brine-making facility, located in Monroe Connecticut.
  • We provide services that support LEED criteria and work with LEED-certified properties across the CRE spectrum.
  • We are experienced in navigating complex logistics for on-structure landscapes and complex commercial sites, including environmentally-sensitive watershed-adjacent, multi-grade, and elevated terrains.
  • We have won national Awards of Excellence for our clients across categories, including recognition for Class A green roofs and “green cities” initiatives for urban redevelopment.
  • We were recognized as a 2030 Sustainability ChangeMaker by Fairfield County for drought and water management leadership and contribution to urban sustainability.

Advocacy

  • We believe landscape professionals are uniquely situated to advocate for and lead on sustainability.
  • We will continue to collaborate with clients, suppliers and allied professionals to champion better ways to make Connecticut and Westchester County, NY, water smart, green smart, and healthier more beautiful places to live, work and play.

For more information on ELM’s path to sustainability, go to: Sustainability | Eastern Land Management | Commercial Landscaping CT & NY

References:

https://www.easternland.com/meet-elms-silent-weapon-in-climate-positive-noise-reduction/

https://www.easternland.com/elms-green-infrastructure-program-is-tackling-urban-stormwater/

https://www.easternland.com/from-the-ground-up-why-soil-regeneration-leads-to-healthier-landscapes/

https://www.easternland.com/elm-is-driving-the-e-in-esg-heres-why-that-matters/

How beautiful landscaping improves health and well-being for seniors.

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

As a professional in the landscape industry and someone with aging parents and in-laws, the stress of finding the right living situation for our loved ones can be overwhelming. It goes beyond financial concerns; we also aspire to place our loved ones in an environment they will truly enjoy, and it all begins with the external aesthetics.

In the domain of senior and assisted living facilities, the significance of establishing a supportive and enriching atmosphere cannot be emphasized enough. With the aging population on the rise, there is a growing awareness of how profoundly surroundings can influence the well-being of residents. An increasingly recognized focal point in this regard is the incorporation of beautiful landscapes into these facilities. Beyond mere aesthetics, a meticulously designed natural environment plays a pivotal role in elevating the quality of life for seniors.

The presence of a lush lawn, vibrant flowers, and calming water features has been proven to contribute to the overall well-being of seniors. Exposure to nature has been linked to reduced stress levels, improved mood, and enhanced mental health. In an environment where residents may face various health challenges, the therapeutic effects of beautiful landscapes become invaluable.

Access to well-maintained outdoor spaces encourages seniors to engage in physical activities, promoting a healthier lifestyle. Walking paths, gardens, and outdoor seating areas provide opportunities for light exercise and social interactions. Additionally, exposure to nature has been associated with cognitive benefits, potentially slowing down cognitive decline and improving memory.

Beautifully landscaped areas serve as inviting communal spaces, fostering social interactions among residents. Whether engaging in group activities, enjoying a family visit in a garden, or participating in outdoor events. This is vital for mental and emotional well-being.

Maintaining outdoor spaces can offer seniors a sense of purpose and engagement. Gardening clubs, outdoor yoga classes, or music events are just a few examples of activities that can be organized in these landscapes. Such activities contribute to a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment, enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.

Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure that outdoor spaces remain vibrant and welcoming. Lawns should be well-maintained, and seasonal flowers can be incorporated to provide visual variety throughout the year. Additionally, ensuring that these areas are easily accessible to all residents, including those with mobility challenges, is essential.

In the evolving landscape of senior and assisted living facilities, the incorporation of beautiful outdoor spaces is more than a luxury; it is a necessity for promoting the well-being of residents. Beyond the physical infrastructure, the beauty of nature has the power to uplift spirits, create a sense of purpose, and enhance the overall quality of life for seniors. As we continue to innovate in the realm of elder care, let us not underestimate the transformative impact that a carefully designed and maintained landscape can have on the lives of those who have contributed so much to our communities.

By Marc Angarano, ELM Client Services, North Region (Monroe CT)

Contact: sales@easternland.com

Sustainability is Not Just for Summer: Meet the Earth-friendly practices that protect your landscape through winter.

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

Greg Gross, branch manager at Eastern Land Management’s “Green Hub” in Monroe, Connecticut, says that sustainable practices during peak growing months is the best way to prepare and protect your landscape for winter. That’s why he’s hosting the firm’s fourth annual Snow Rodeo, a two-day, all-hands winter management training and preparedness program, held this year on October 26-27.

“Winter weather is becoming harder to predict,” Greg says, “so prep, preparedness and contingency planning is more important than ever. The additional stress winter brings to plants and trees, and the operational stress it brings to property and facility managers—cost control, risk management, rising expectations, and liabilities linked to the environment and pedestrian safety—require us to continually improve our game.”

ELM has a long-standing commitment to cut down on chlorides and the firm’s organic-based liquid ice melt products, and its own brine-making facility in Monroe, significantly decreases the amount of traditional salting methods that harm and pollute waterways.

ELM’s snow rodeo addresses these challenges and more, including best practices in storm response, resource allocation, materials and equipment safety, new plow technologies, shoveling techniques, and ways to make sure that plants, landscapes, and people are protected from the hazards of winter.

    • Pre-winter landscape protection with mulching, pruning, fall clean-up, winterized irrigation systems
    • Full property inspection and pre-winter game planning
    • Proactive planning with client to keep commercial properties, college campuses and schools, HOAs, hospitals and senior living facilities safe and accessible, operational, and open
    • Strategies for constant communication, predicted weather events, impending storms, and regular updates
    • Consistent equipment and training on repeat
    • Proprietary weather forecasting, online weather resources, and data models
    • High-performance equipment and advanced technologies
    • Proprietary brine solutions that use less salt per square foot and protect waterways, landscapes and the environment
    • Earth-friendly snow and ice melt solutions
    • Organic, non-chloride applications that reduce corrosion and cost of spring clean- up and repair on architectural building details and hardscape
    • Seasonal snow and ice contract options so you always know how much to budget for winter
    • Hazard mitigation, risk management, pedestrian and vehicle safety, sidewalks and parking lot management that address liability concerns
    • Year-round weather readiness, alerts and warnings
    • Year-round plant health care and sustainable approaches
    • Year-round commitment to do what it takes to keep safety first, no matter the weather, the season or the unexpected

Severe weather is a fact of life in the Northeast. Snow and ice storms, blizzards, freezing temps, and reduced visibility are powerful and damaging. Spring may be the best time to think about what your landscaping and environmental strategies will look like in summer, but failure to prepare can be costly.

To learn more about ELM’s sustainable snow and ice services, winter management and winter safety program, contact ELM President and Advanced Snow Management Professional, Bruce Moore Jr. at (203) 316-5433.

ELM is an active member of the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) and certified as Advanced Snow Management Professionals.

Photo: ELM Monroe Connecticut facility and “Green Hub”, host of ELM’s annual Snow Rodeo and winter safety training event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jordan Skiba, ELM Intern, Seeds His Climb to The Top

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A recent UConn grad with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration is this summer’s intern.

“An intern with a path to the future,” says Bruce Moore Jr. who’s pegged Jordan as someone who adds the kind of high-energy talent that easily translates to a long-game role.

Jordan brings a lot of plusses to ELM: he’s Stamford born and raised. He worked in the hospitality industry through college, has had a passion for landscaping since forever, and likes being hands-on. Plus, he’s smart, a nice guy, and loves sports and family.

Jordan currently has his hands full with research projects, learning the lay of the land, and getting to know people and projects.

Jordan says, everyone has been so welcoming and helpful, he can hardly wait to grow his career while doing whatever it takes to support ELM’s success.

Welcome, Jordan. Go Huskies.

 

 

Marc Angarano Returns to ELM to Lead North Region Sales

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Commercial landscaping sales executive Marc Angarano has returned to ELM to lead the growth of ELM’s regional operation in Monroe, Connecticut. He joins an ELM business development team that also includes Stamford, Connecticut south region sales lead, Ted Marron.

“We’re in a period of great opportunity to create solutions that create value, offer a better use of technology, and ways to drive green performance. With our upcoming 50th anniversary in 2026, Marc will play a critical role in shaping what that looks like,” said company president, Bruce Moore Jr.

Before joining ELM, Marc served as a business development executive with BrightView, and held account and operations management positions with The Brickman Group.

“Marc’s passion for sustainability and his insight on competitive advantage will help us align our mission and operations to directly support our clients’ objectives,” added Bruce.

Please join us in welcoming Marc back to ELM.

Contact Marc at mangarano@easternland.com

Ted Marron Joins ELM as Business Developer

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Eastern Land Management, a full-service commercial landscape company based in Stamford, Connecticut and serving Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York, is pleased to welcome Ted Marron to the position of Business Developer.

With over 17 years of B2B and B2C sales experience, Ted joins a seasoned ELM management team to offer an unprecendented value proposition and landscape services options.

In his new role, Ted will be managing and strengthening existing client relationships and partnerships in the commercial real estate sector, and work to identify and build client relationships while providing knowledgeable sales support.

“We are excited to have Ted on our team,” said company president, Bruce Moore, Jr. “He brings with him a competitive spirit and accolades earned as a result of his experience, and the strong relationships he’s built in our community. We are looking forward to Ted being part of our future growth.”

Born in Stamford and raised in Trumbull, Ted is active in community philanthropic organizations and believes that giving back is the best way forward.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southern Connecticut State University and says working in the landscape industry gives him an opportunity to offer something tangible, gratifying and beautiful.

 

 

How Colleges Can Optimize the Value of Landscape to Meet Strategic & Academic Goals

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

As a campus facility manager, you know that staying competitive means continually investing in your grounds. But with undergraduate college enrollment in its steepest decline on record, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and data from the National Student Clearinghouse, making the case for continual improvements gets harder, pushing many facility managers to seek landscape service partners that can identify new ways to keep your campus landscape a high-performing resource.

Knowing how to respond to challenges and how wisely money will be allocated is an opportunity to ensure that the full potential of the value of the investment in landscaping can be realized. To Eastern Land Management, this means delivering more innovative solutions and a value-based approach to landscape and grounds services.

With 48 years’ experience spanning public and private K-12, to land grant and private colleges to the Ivy league in Connecticut and New York, ELM has a long-history as a discreet and unparalleled landscape partner-of-choice. The company’s proactive, professionally managed approach to maintaining campus landscape and grounds is a process that ensures that the school, the land, the natural resources, the landscape and the built environment work in harmony with the school’s commitment to excellence.

Key elements that make us strong campus partners

  • We work with facility managers to reemphasize the flexible space between buildings, and meet landscape, grounds and site objectives at a strategic level.
  • We improve data driven decision-making with technology platforms.
  • We find creative ways to rise to the challenge of deferred maintenance.
  • We advise on energy management programs to reach sustainability goals and drive cost savings.
  • We follow best-practice guidelines in horticulture, plant health care, integrated pest management, and water conservation to break new ground on sustainable solutions.
  • We create a consistent and reliable approach to service excellence, working with facility managers to set priorities and deliver the greatest value.
  • We provide multiple delivery models, including outsourced partner, onsite partner, consulting partner, or in specialized service areas, such as water management and athletic fields.

Leading change in four critical areas

ELM received the Fairfield County ChangeMaker Award for sustainability in 2019, and we continue to support sustainability goals in the following ways:

  • Safeguarding water
    • Reducing runoff
    • Promoting permeable paving
    • Collecting rainwater, where feasible
    • Implementing landscaping that has high rate of absorption
    • Incorporating bioswales and bio-retention areas, and constructed wetlands
    • Utilizing drought tolerant planting
    • Installing high-efficiency irrigation systems and digital water saving technology
  • Conserving resources
    • Reducing green waste
    • Minimizing waste impacts
    • Using renewable, biodegradable, low-impact, and non-toxic materials, as feasible
  • Improving energy efficiency
    • Planting deciduous trees for seasonal shading
    • Using energy-efficient equipment
    • Using renewable technologies
    • Increasing the use of cost-effective tools and alternative fuel
  • Enhancing environmental quality
    • Creating healthy outdoor spaces and landscape solutions that support learning and enhance the quality of life
    • Restoring soil health to improve carbon sequestration, combat soil erosion, retain water and nutrients
    • Using non-toxic products, as feasible, to improve plant health and reduce pests and disease
    • Increasing the use of low-maintenance, drought tolerant perennials, meadows, eco-lawns, groundcover
    • Protecting habitats and promoting biodiversity
    • Using eco-friendly alternatives to salt for winter snow and ice management

At ELM, our goal is to make all the elements of the landscape work together for a more sustainable and resilient future. To learn more, contact sales@easternland.com

 

 

5 Ways to Look Beyond Cost When Sourcing Landscape Services

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

Bridging the relationship gap between client and contractor can be complicated. But when it works well, the payoff can be impressive in terms of performance improvement, increased revenue, and results.

When we are invited to the table for strategic planning with our commercial real estate clients, we contribute knowledge and insight. We don’t sell. This is the difference between a transactional approach and a partnership approach, and one we take seriously as a landscape services firm committed to help property and facility owners and managers find competitive advantage.

From our years of experience working and partnering with commercial real estate professionals, we’ve narrowed the conversation down to just five talking points, and what we’re doing to help you look beyond cost and source a landscape firm that can work with you to achieve greater alignment on goals.

  • Innovation

ELM is committed to accelerate meaningful change. We have invested in EV, automation and technology, artificial intelligence, renewable fuels, and training that improves time and logistics management, client communication, and resource efficiency—from water conservation, and rainwater and stormwater management, to energy-efficient equipment, to tax rebates, lower utility and maintenance costs, and zoning and drought allowances. We built a dedicated facility for snow operations, make our own eco-friendly de-icing applications, and mitigate environmental risk across our service lines.

  • Scalability

ELM’s nimble operating model allows us to scale up or scale back processes and resources to continually enhance productivity across all functions.  ELM has flexibility built into its systems that all but eliminate the need for you to anticipate and respond to extreme weather events–creating a superior experience for you that is marked by expertise, speed and better outcomes.

  • Efficiency

ELM’s high-value services help your organization stay lean and agile, maximize your profitability, improve the quality and performance of your landscape and open spaces, and reduce liability. You gain the efficiency of the latest training, technologies and processes, access to specialized talent, and experienced subject matter experts that can help you improve your operational resilience.

  • Benchmarking

ELM is a metric-driven culture that uses data and smart analytics to benchmark across criteria. This improves weather and budget forecasting, helps meet conservation goals, and provides a baseline for accountability

  • Environmental Sustainability

ELM is focusing on strategies that help you maintain your momentum and leadership on climate action. These include site improvements, beautification programs, building and maintaining landscapes that sequester more carbon; and increasing waste minimization through improved landscape operational practices. We’re using earth-friendly alternatives, mitigating environmental risk across landscape, grounds and open spaces, and committing to increased plant and ecosystem health through continuous improvement in best practices.

If you’re looking to improve your approach to strategic sourcing, remove inefficiencies, better manage risk, and gain a partner that aligns with who you are and where your business is going, contact company president Bruce Moore Jr. at (203) 316-5433.

Photo: The Innovation Center at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield CT.  Landscape and grounds sustainably maintained year-round by Eastern Land Management.

 

 

 

The ABCs of RFPs: what CREs need to know about finding a landscape partner

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

If you’re a commercial property or facility professional, RFPs – Request for Proposals – will sooner or later fall within your task bucket.

As a procurement tool, RFPs can be a great leveler. But they also don’t tell the whole story; they can feel like tedious wheel reinvention for both parties, and when they’re ‘kitchen sink’ approaches – or ask for everything but, there is no room for differentiation.

We think there’s a better way.

With spring start-up season just around the corner, here’s our advice for tailoring your landscape services RFP to give you the best partner for the job.

Why RFPs can be a race to the bottom

Service companies that respond to RFPs essentially engage in a bidding way, ending up in a pool of contractors who compete on price. When landscape companies compete on price, it’s because they often look for cheaper options to deliver on apples-to-apples specs. The bad news for property and facility professionals who contract landscaping services through RFPs is that you get what you pay for – a hamster wheel of RFP-won contractors who cut corners on innovation to offer price instead of value.

We believe that value is a competitive advantage. When you eliminate value, you lose the upside value brings. In the ever-increasing, ever-complex world of collaborative service partnerships, an ill-conceived RFP can yield more problems than solutions.

How to make RFPs a win-win   

For both landscape services contracts and complex landscaping projects—those with upgrades, renovations, and performance and environmental improvements—a well-written RFP can be effective at filtering out weak players. To create a consistently good RFP and RFP process, think about shaping your RFP as an RFV – or Request for Value.

In addition to describing what you and your commercial property or facility needs and your expectations for delivery, include specs for your sustainability goals and context for what the landscaping itself will meet, such as: key site performance indicators for carbon neutral or LEED.  Include the ‘need to haves’ and the ‘nice to haves’, criteria for curb appeal and improved asset value, and communicate actual timelines with a realistic deadline for the contractor to respond.

Avoid generalities, proof-read for typos, edit for clarity, and eliminate redundant questions and contradictory requirements. If your RFP-issuing team is not clear on specs, risk mitigation, and expected outcomes, go back to the drawing board to make it better and tighter.

A cautionary note about AI-enabled technology:  When the RFP response process is automated, do the math.  While automation offers efficiencies and fills out things at a much quicker pace, the scope piece – when compared to non-automated bids – may not add up. Always double check to make sure you’re not getting apples-to-oranges.

If you’re looking to save cost, remember: low-bid doesn’t tell the whole story. The best return on investment will always be calculated by actual and perceived value, and the long-term value that comes from a strong relationship.

We do our best work when we work with people—face to face, building connections, friendships, and opportunities to gain trust.  Our advice? Use your RFP as a solid starting point. A way to open the door and start a conversation, and a way to make sure you’re getting more than a team of qualified vendors, but a strategic partnership where value is created and delivered every step of the way.

Spring is the time of renewal in nature and in the procurement office. If you’re renewing your contracts, seeking to find a new landscape partner, or interested in keeping the conversation going, give us a call.

We’re listening.

Contact President Bruce Moore Jr. (203) 316-5433.

Bruce Moore Jr. is a second-generation landscape industry leader and President of Eastern Land Management, a full-service commercial landscaping business serving the property and facility market in Fairfield County Connecticut and Westchester County New York.

Bruce is an active member of BOMA Westchester County and BOMA Southern Connecticut. He currently serves on BOMASoCt board of directors.

www.easternland.com

 

 

Landscaping is Changing the Conversation Around Green Real Estate. Top 10 things property people need to know.

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

January is Quality of Life month and with sustainability playing an increasingly more important role in how commercial real estate companies invest in green performance, the benefits of landscaping has emerged as an actionable priority.

From site design and infrastructure to LEED considerations to amenities and workplace wellness, new research suggests that nature will have the largest and most easily quantifiable impact on quality of life.

Here’s how:

  1. Health & wellness

The Covid pandemic flipped perceptions of workplace norms, leading to a rethink of the role air quality, natural light and quality outdoor space influences health and well-being. This has led to reconfiguring landscaped areas for outdoor conferencing and working, creating walking trails and bike paths for fitness, building out green roofs and terraces for encourage social interaction, and increasing the number of trees.

  1. Sustainability

As a philosophy and a practice, sustainability has influenced the built environment for years. But with concerns around extreme weather events, climate action planning and the need for increased environmental resilience, landscaping has become an essential key performance indicator for driving occupancy, higher rents, higher tenant retention and higher property value – all while reducing energy use, waste, and environmental impacts.

Getting up to speed. What’s next?

Nature, by way of landscaping and its ability to refresh and revitalize, is an unparalleled remedy to urban stress. When implemented in a way that also protects environmental health, the benefits to human health increase exponentially.  Ten things ELM can help you do now:

  1. Implement a water conservation and irrigation management plan, combined with low-water use landscape strategies and comprehensive guidelines for erosion control and storm water management.
  2. Reduce landfill waste through recycling and composting.
  3. Increase biodiversity, habitat health and plant life through best practices.
  4. Reduce chemical use.
  5. Improve soil health through mulching and microorganisms.
  6. Improve plant and pest management with biological controls, and beneficial insects.
  7. Create a long-range strategic landscape plan that includes ongoing landscape performance improvements.
  8. Transform underutilized areas into perennial meadows.
  9. Use advanced technologies for energy-efficiency and improved resource management.
  10. Create and maintain healthy and high-performing outdoor amenity spaces for people to spend more time in nature.

To learn more about how Eastern Land Management can improve quality of life through landscaping, contact company president Bruce Moore Jr. at (203) 316-5433.

Photo: Stamford Towers, Stamford Connecticut. A commercial landscape sustainably maintained by ELM for CBRE.