At ServiceMaster, it is our responsibility to do our best every day to
practice and promote sound and responsible environmental stewardship. In
every great brand and functional group of our company, associates on
every level are working to find ways to put that responsibility to work
– whether it is with a customer, a partner, in the community or with a
colleague.
Last year we showcased many of our company's initiatives and how they
were implemented. This year those initiatives continue with great
success. But we haven’t stopped looking to implement more great
initiatives to increase our environmental stewardship.
Below are updates on what’s new and still meeting with success.
TruGreen
Education: This past March, TruGreen launched My
Botanic Planet.com, a creative online educator resource to inspire
K-5 students’ interest in the diverse plant world. TruGreen collaborated
with Memphis Botanic Garden on My Botanic Planet, where participants can
adapt their avatar then discover colorful plant environments and related
interactive games as they meet Inspector Nectar on a flower mystery or
Flavor Flores on a sensational sap safari. Created by professional
curriculum developers, the initial six lessons meet national education
standards and benchmarks, and focus on the plant origins of flavors, the
parts of the flower, and how pollination occurs.
Transforming the TruGreen fleet: TruGreen put its first hybrid
truck into service on March 17 of this year. Along with ServiceMaster
Fleet, TruGreen will add 10 hybrid vehicles to TruGreen routes in
California. Also, nearly 7,000 trucks are in the process of converting
to electric spray systems and innovative oil filters to help one of the
nation's largest private fleets to run cleaner and more fuel efficiently.
Organics: TruGreen has been offering organic programs for decades
and encourages Americans to adopt a 100-percent natural, organic option
and sustainable practices - most recently with our TruNatural® service
line.
Reduction in pesticides: We are continuing to significantly
reduce pesticide usage by lawn by treating weeds only when and where
needed through Targeted Lawn Treatment using proprietary technologies
and greener innovation. To achieve our goals, it's imperative that every
branch use the dual-line system in accordance with operational standards.
Preserving green spaces: TruGreen actively participates in
preservation projects, such as helping to restore and maintain the
1,000-acre Fernald Preserve of wetlands and greenery in Ohio that
formerly served as a uranium-processing site.
Recycling: 100 percent of all TruGreen marketing materials
are printed on recyclable materials and close to 40 percent
of materials are printed on recycled materials (10 percent
postconsumer waste).
Terminix
Terminix has served as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council since
2009. The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's foremost coalition
of leaders working to transform the way buildings and communities are
designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially
responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the
quality of life.
Terminix is GreenPro certified for eco-effective pest control.
Mosquito Sentry MachineTM – Terminix completed a national
rollout of its Mosquito Sentry machine. The product is designed to repel
mosquitoes with natural active ingredients at a range of up to 900
square feet and is safe to use around pets and people alike.
SmartTruckTM allows Terminix to be more environmentally
conscious in many ways. Using satellite and Monthly Planner technology,
service professionals are able to service customers in clusters of
neighborhoods, thereby reducing the miles driven and fuel consumed.
Smart Truck is a GPS-guided service vehicle that works in conjunction
with the Monthly Planner and BestFit Scheduling technology to help
maximize efficiency in servicing routes. The satellite technology allows
service professionals to synchronize handheld data devices with the
branch office without having to physically drive to the branch to
retrieve or submit work orders.
Terminix SafeShieldTM
Terminix SafeShieldTM is a fast-acting, non-aerosol, handheld spray made
from 100 percent natural active ingredients that is highly effective
against 25 common household pests. Learn
More about Terminix SafeShieldTM
Terminix Insulation Service (formally R-Plus) is no ordinary
insulation. Made from all-natural materials and recycled newsprint, this
product not only contains boric acid which helps fight pests, it also
conserves energy for Terminix customers, saves on their utility costs
and increases the resale value of their homes. Proper insulation also
reduces wear and tear on HVAC equipment because it does not have to run
as much. How does Terminix Insulation Service positively impact this?
Because of its blown natural fibers, it can fill gaps and voids,
providing a cooler home in the summer and a warmer home in the
winter. In addition to Terminix customers being able to save money on
heating and cooling bills, they may also qualify for a tax credit of up
to $1,500 or 30 percent of the initial investment under the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) from Terminix is another service
that not only helps reduce the use of product but also helps commercial
customers mitigate infestations. IPM is the governing principle behind
the new commercial "green" service offering called Terminix EcoControl,
which launched in April. Terminix EcoControl offers commercial customers
a service that is LEED compliant and meets the criteria to qualify as
a "green" pest service. Rather than offering treatment as the single and
only option for pest control, service professionals offer service plans
that integrate multiple means of control with emphasis on the
identification and correction of conditions that contribute to the pest
infestation and non-chemical control means before offering treatment to
solve pest problems. Even if treatment becomes necessary, products with
the lowest environmental impact are introduced as the first means of
treatment.
Terminix Commercial Natural Pest Control is basically the
commercial version of the residential product, Terminix SafeShield. It's
sold by the case and can eliminate up to 25 common types of pests on
contact when sprayed. Terminix Commercial Drain Fly Killer is also sold
by the case and is specially formulated to control drain and fruit flies
as well as minimize odors in drain and waste areas. The ingredients in
both of these products are natural. Commercial clients have the power of
Terminix in their hands in a safe-to-use formula they can use in
kitchens or food prep areas.
Sales Mobility saves on printing costs; cuts down on use of
paper/printing which positively affects the environment.
The Terminix Termite Inspection and Protection Plan reduces
impact on the environment by delaying the use of treatment on homes
until it is absolutely necessary. A homeowner receives the same benefits
and guarantees of a conventional liquid termite protection plan;
however, treatment is not administered until it is absolutely necessary
- when termites infest the structure.
American Home Shield
American Home Shield is finding ways to grow the business and strengthen
its connection with its customers through more environmentally conscious
outreach such as e-mail. Also, all printing vendors for the real estate
business are now required to be certified by the Forestry Stewardship
Council (FSC), meaning the wood used in the production of these paper
products is not the result of clear-cutting. It also means the printers
use soy-based inks, which are less harmful to the environment. AHS also
encourages its customers to be responsible by placing the "Please
Recycle" logo on all of its direct mail pieces.
American Home Shield recently kicked off its second annual Live Green
Save Green campaign to help home owners adopt more energy efficient
practices, just in time for the summer heat that affects so many of its
customers. By announcing the availability of $25,000 in giveaways, and
encouraging supporters to join the awareness day challenge called “Three
Degrees of Preparation” on June 1, AHS expects to create awareness and
further increase its 5,000-strong member base. Created in 2010, Live
Green Save Green centers around http://LiveGreenSaveGreen.com,
an online social community for homeowners and enthusiasts to learn and
share strategies on reducing home energy consumption.
Merry Maids
Merry Maids uses a bound home repair manual book that each client
receives as part of every general home inspection. Last year, it
introduced the repair manual book on CD and most franchise owners order
the CD version along with the environmental binder, which is printed on
100 percent post-consumer recycled chipboard with low-VOC vegetable ink.
Merry Maids also has a turned edge binder available for order, which is
more of a paper/cardboard based binder. The environmental binder is the
most popular among the franchisees.
Merry Maids has been committed to making available the safest and most
effective products for our team members, managers and franchisees since
the company was founded in 1979. In 2008, the company launched a line of
Green Seal-certified products, and now the products have evolved. Merry
Maids Shineffective cleaning products bear the Design for the
Environment (DfE) label, a standard established by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency that is widely recognized by U.S.
consumers. Also in 2010, the company introduced Oreck Steam-It floor
cleaners as recommended equipment for steam cleaning most hard-surface
floors.
ServiceMaster Clean
ServiceMaster Clean Disaster Restoration providers are using the
nanotechnology of the OdorKlenz® Air Deodorization Cartridge (Nano
Filter) to tackle offensive odors on residential and commercial jobs
such as: skunk, urine, smoke, trauma scene, sewage, garbage, oil,
decomposed animal and more. As part of the ServiceMaster Clean odor
remediation product line, the environmentally conscious, non-toxic and
non-corrosive, the OdorKlenz® Air Deodorization Cartridge fits into an
air scrubber and rapidly eliminates strong and harmful odors more
effectively than ozone and activated carbon - by trapping, destroying
and removing odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and air particles.
(Air scrubbers are portable air filtration devices that filter the air
of particles and contaminants).
ServiceMaster Fleet
ServiceMaster, which has one of the largest private fleets in the
country, will add 10
hybrid vehicles to its TruGreen fleet in California. The first truck
was put into service March 17. A hybrid vehicle combines a conventional
internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion
system. The presence of the electric power train is intended to achieve
better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle, or better performance.
It is expected that using hybrid vehicles will help ServiceMaster reduce
its carbon footprint by improving fuel economy by up to 40 percent,
providing a 30 percent reduction in maintenance costs and up to 30
percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
AmeriSpec
At AmeriSpec, each client receives a have a bound home repair manual
book as part of every general home inspection. In 2010, the brand
introduced a version of the repair manual book on CD and in an
environmentally preferred printed binder, using 100 percent
post-consumer recycled chipboard with low-VOC vegetable ink. We also
have a turned edge binder available for order, which is more of a
paper/cardboard based binder. The environmental binder is the most
popular among the franchisees.
Furniture Medic
At Furniture Medic, the core principle is to restore wood furnishings to
their original beauty, encouraging reuse, rather than replacement.
Through expert repair and maintenance, Furniture Medic extends the life
of furnishings, reducing the need to toss damaged items into landfills.
As we celebrate Earth Day 2011, think of it as a new beginning - a
renewal of how to think and work responsibly to keep the earth healthy.
It all begins with you and how you choose to impact the earth - at home
and at work at ServiceMaster.
TruGreen LandCare
At Miramar Wholesale Nurseries (a LandCare company) in San Diego,
Calif., LandCare associates are engaging their customers by giving
credit back to those who return black plastic containers so the nursery
can clean and re-use them.
Miramar composts all green waste generated at the nursery and by the
TruGreen LandCare maintenance branches in San Diego. The green waste is
used to produce both compost and mulch which are sold in the landscape
center and used in the nursery in soil mixes and for weed control.
LandMap route planning – From an operations perspective, TruGreen
LandCare is continuing its efforts to right-size its fleet and to help
ensure that its vehicles are as efficient as possible. LandMap route
planning will reduce fuel usage as routes are analyzed and then modified
to increase savings.
Xeriscaping – In the landscaping arena, LandCare is involved with
initiatives such as xeriscaping, which is becoming increasingly popular
in the western U.S. area. This involves removing non-native plants and
replacing them with plants that thrive in the climate without need with
minimal or no irrigation needs.
Members of the media only, contact:
U.S. Media Relations
James Robinson
+1-901-597-7521
or
International Media Inquiries
Antonio Hernandez
+1-901-597-8381
or
ServiceMaster
Media Hotline:
+1-866-397-7921