International Society for Landcare Emissions
I S L E
The International Society for Landcare Emissions works with public and private organizations to measure and reduce their environmental and social impact on urban landscapes.
Partner with ISLE to achieve your goals within these organizations:
Testimonial: "The report looks great! Thank you for taking the time to put this together and congratulations on a successful outcome!" info_goisle.org 303-731-2643
Dan Omasta, Board Co-Chair at The University of Colorado at Boulder Environmental Center Copyright © 2011. All rights reserved. I S L E
ISLE
The International Society for Landcare Emissions (ISLE) is a social enterprise positioned to become the world's most trusted leader in reducing noise, emissions, and impacts of landcare practices by bridging the gap between current and optimal practices.
We help organizations measure their land care impacts with our TurfView™ software, then develop time-sensitive action plans that shift current practices toward alternatives that result in less noise and lower emissions.
Our process is simple. Quantification first, planning second, followed by implementation in manageable increments. We have found that organizations are more likely to make modifications that are initially accessible, inexpensive, and easily manageable. In order to achieve necessary changes, we recommend making small ones sooner rather than major ones later.
ISLE offers comprehensive standards and certifications that bring accountability and responsibility to the transition process. These assure the community that your organization is making improvements according to government, manufacturer and scientific requirements and recommendations. Our information-sharing networks are the key to accountable and responsible environmental progress.
Our Mission
To advise and support communities in transitioning the way urban lawns and landscapes are perceived, maintained, designed, and assessed for environmental, social, and economic impacts by providing accurate impact quantification, comprehensive standards, innovative solutions, consulting, certification, and information-sharing networks.
The international community is currently facing challenges of climate change, pollution and limited oil resources. Individuals, businesses and government organizations are now more than ever making sustainable decisions so that we may leave a lighter footprint. While sustainable transition models have been developed for buildings, transportation, and consumer products, outdoor landcare management has received comparatively little attention even though it leaves large carbon pollution footprints. For instance, emissions from grounds maintenance equipment are categorized as Scope 1, harmful both to humans and wildlife because they produce direct exposures. With ISLE, organizations can not only quantify the impacts of land care, but also begin integrating outdoor emissions reducing solutions with sustainable planning.
Meeting the Challenges
ISLE . . .
Creates comprehensive standards.
Calculates current and optimum land care footprints with ISLE's TurfView.
Assists organizations in developing an action plan that is specific to particular challenges and opportunities.
Innovates transition techniques to bridge the gap between the current and optimal conditions.
Certifies organizations with grounds keeping programs, professionals, and land care service providers.
Trains outdoor equipment operators for efficient implementation of ISLE standards.
Encourages information-sharing networks to accelerate the global adoption of noise and emissions reducing grounds management.
Promotes our vision and principles.
Goals for a Sustainable Future
ISLE Principles form the basis of 8 objectives which serve as specific goals for lightening the footprint of grounds maintenance. Based on these objectives, ISLE has developed standards that define and explain requirements for achieving the specific goals of sustainable land care. In summary, ISLE Standards outline methods that accomplish the objectives established from the fundamental ISLE Principles.
Overview of ISLE Principles
• Sustainable grounds keeping
• Promotion of lawn, human, and
animal health
• Clean energy sources
• Protection of water resources
• Preservation of wildlife and
biodiversity
ISLE's Vision
At ISLE, our vision is to guide communities in creating and maintaining urban lawns and landscapes that bring beauty, nature, health and tranquility into the daily lives of current and future generations.
We envision a world where improvement is not postponed due to financial, time and logistical constraints. That is why we believe in working with "what is" and incorporating basic transitions into urban outdoor care that not only enhance operational efficiency but also reduce the impact of land care on the environment and the surrounding community.
Three Levels of Decision Making
ISLE is an international society consisting of a diverse group of representatives from environmental, architectural, engineering, political science, facilities management, and business fields.
ISLE has established a governance framework and structure to ensure the long-term commitment to ISLEs mission and principles. The governance structure stands upon the pillars of participation, accountability, equity, transparency, responsiveness, efficiency and rule of law.
The Steering Committee
The purpose of the Steering Committee is to review, oversee, and approve the boards major projects, standards, procedures, priorities, and performance. Its members represent environmental, social and economic spheres.
The Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is accountable to the ISLE members. It is made up of individuals who are appointed by the Steering Committee and the Executive Director. It is responsible for establishing policies, objectives, procedures, standards, projects and the annual budget.
Executive Director
The Executive Director is responsible for managing and leading the diverse professional team that runs ISLE on a day-to-day basis.
Members of the Steering Committee
About Us
ISLE Standards
The ISLE standards serve as a comprehensive tool to understand and manage the impacts of urban landscapes. There are eight primary focus areas within the ISLE standards that aim to achieve our objectives.
1. EQUIPMENT
2. OPERATION
3. WASTE
4. GLOBAL
5. DESIGN
6. IRRIGATION
7. FERTILIZER
8. PESTICIDE
TurfView Software
A software developed by ISLE to accurately measure the carbon footprint of urban landscapes ranging from irrigation, equipment, exterior lighting, and fertilizer/pesticides. A series of equations calculate the carbon emissions from the desired category and ISLE works with organizations to provide a plan to help reduce all types of pollutions.
ISLE standards encourage organizations to significantly reduce the noise and air pollution, water waste, chemical runoff, energy use, harmful chemical application, and solid waste produced by land care. These standards have been developed according to the most up to date research of manufacturers, scientists, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and grounds keeping specialists. The result is a comprehensive framework that addresses key environmental, social, and economic objectives for building a smart and sustainable future.
Introduction to the ISLE Standards
Best_Management_Practices_1_.pdf
NextGen Model
The Next Generation Model starts with "what is" and incorporates simple changes to minimize environmental impact immediately, thereby modifying landscape care standards gradually in order to minimize future impact. The (Transition Level) incorporates small, easy and cost savings steps, allowing individuals and organizations to move forward quickly and embrace the positive aspects of change. The (Evolution Level) continues this process, transitioning organizations toward the (Next Generation Level), where significant accomplishments in reducing environmental impact meet with a striving for continual improvement.
Three Levels of the NextGen Model
TRANSITION
The transition level encourages
organizations to work with
"what is" by incorporating basic
changes into their current land
care program. Small, easy,
cost-saving steps result in
increased initial momentum
and demonstrate the positive
aspects of change.
EVOLUTION
The evolution level promotes
further development within the
grounds maintenance program
by re-evaluating what is and
taking more active steps to
evolve toward sustainable
alternatives.
NEXT GENERATION
The NextGen level encourages
continual development of
the land care regiment to
incorporate the most current
sustainable technologies and
standards.
Tracking and Reporting with TurfView
ISLE provides real time, optimal grounds maintenance footprint reporting. ISLE's comprehensive software model looks at all impacts of land care on the community, air, climate, wildlife, water, biodiversity, and waste accumulation. By quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts on the environment with the help of TurfView reports, organizations obtain a science-based approach to sustainable planning. The current and optimum footprint reports help organizations establish and manage their positions in critical areas. Additionally, the software can map out several fiscal and/or time sensitive scenarios for transitions to an optimum footprint. With ISLE's software model, programs will be able to efficiently allocate funds, create specialized action plans, and continually optimize their land care portfolio by managing their emissions assets or liabilities.
Click to View TurfView Flowchart
Zone Parameters
ISLE Standardized Zone
*High pedestrian density location.
*Posted signs to inform pedestrians and operators of zone boundaries & education outreach.
*Equipment outfitted for low noise and air pollution emissions.
*Equipment operators abide by ISLE best management techniques and standards within the specified area.
*No pesticide labeled "Danger" or "Warning" are used.
*Fertilizer runoff is kept to an absolute minimum with best management practices (BMP).
*Waste reduction strategies are implemented.
*Lights are retrofitted with photo sensors - an electronic component that detects the presence of visible light.
*TurfView carbon dioxide assessment reports.
An ISLE zone is a high pedestrian-density location in which noise, particulate dust, carbon dioxide, water, and air pollution is reduced through the implementation of ISLE standards and methods. A single zone is an effective tool to control emissions and loud noise in manageable sections while maintaining the aesthetic value of turf and the continued efficiency of maintenance operators.
Zone design is flexible. We work with organizations to create zones that are most suitable for the location, type of site use, fiscal and time variables, and desired outcomes. A zone can have comprehensive specifications or it can have a theme, such as Low Noise, Powered by Renewable Energy, Organic Pesticides and Fertilizer, or Wildlife and Native Plants Zone. The following is an example of a previously implemented ISLE certified zone:
College Campus Zone Initiative
The American College & University President Climate Commitment (President's Climate Commitment) recognizes the role of colleges and universities in being community leaders in climate change initiatives. In efforts to reduce and ultimately neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, campuses are challenged to find and commit to new sustainable solutions that fit their budgets and minimize the institutions' impact on Earth.
What is the College Campus Zone Initiative?
ISLE's College Campus Zone Initiative strives to builds relationships with college students and faculty to increase awareness about the impacts of lawn and landscape management. A partnership with colleges and universities not only directly benefits the institution with comprehensive measuring tools and action plans but also becomes a community example for properly including landscape management into sustainability planning.
How does ISLE help Colleges and Universities?
ISLE brings a new perspective to quantifying the impacts of managing lawns and landscapes. ISLE's TurfView reporting software provides a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from outdoor facilities management that incorporates direct emissions from petroleum powered equipment and embedded emissions from water use, fertilizers, yard waste, and outdoor lighting
Why are ISLE Zones ideal for College campuses?
An ISLE zone is a high pedestrian density location in which noise, particulate dust, carbon dioxide, water, and air pollution are reduced through implementation of ISLE standards and techniques. Zone design is flexible; a zone can have comprehensive specifications or it can have a theme such as Low Noise, Powered by Renewable Energy, Organic Pesticides and Fertilizer, or Wildlife and Native Plants Zone. The College Campus Zone initiative shows to the community the benefits of implementing changes in manageable sections, or zones. ISLE zones are also a great visible tool to see eco-stewardship in action and learn about the importance of creating controlled and manageable section during implementation processes.
Unlocking the Benefits for Your Organization
Transitioning with ISLE
News & Stories
Links
Crosscreek Initiative
ISLE at the University of Colorado at Boulder
*Featured Summer 2011 Project...
ISLE was the first outside organization to receive a sustainable grant from the University of Colorado at Boulder Environmental Center. What could ISLE have to offer to one of the leading institutions of sustainability in the world? The answer is simple: ISLE's reporting and verification protocols calculate the emissions of organizations' urban landscapes so that they will progress towards a greener future. Through ISLE Standards and TurfView™ software, ISLE calculates, reports and verifies carbon emissions. By partnering with organizations, ISLE becomes the standard through which the best international practices are set, and a further understanding of the environmental impact of all urban landscapes is gained.
Through ISLE's Student Ambassador Program, students from the university were recruited and supervised for gathering the data needed to deliver the report.
Testimonial:
" The report looks great! Thank you for taking the time to put this together and congratulations on a successful outcome! "
- Dan Omasta, Board Co-Chair at the University of Colorado Environmental Center
ISLE Student Ambassadors
ISLE works with students at colleges and universities to measure their campus sustainability performance.
CLICK HERE or the Icon below to see the benefits of being an ISLE Student Ambassador.
Pictures from the University of Colorado Project
Who We Work With
Cities
Universities
Schools
Communities
Homes
Golf Courses
Parks
Office Buildings
Hospitals
Resorts
Portfolio
Our Tools
Tools of the Trade
ISLE uses a variety of tools to help calculate emissions. Here are some of the software ISLE uses in collaboration with TurfView.
This is where Innovation and Transition begin...
Google Earth
With Google Earth you can explore the earth from above! Want to know more about a specific location? Dive right in -- Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips.
Autodesk Autocad
Design and shape the world around you with the powerful, flexible features in AutoCAD® 2012 software, one of the worlds leading 2D and 3D CAD design tools. Maximize your productivity with updated tools for conceptual design, model documentation, and reality capture.
TurfView
esri ArcGIS
ArcGIS is a system that lets you easily author data, maps, globes, and models on the desktop and serve them out for use on a desktop, in a browser, or in the field via mobile devices, depending on the needs of your organization. If you are a developer, ArcGIS gives you tools for building your own applications
TurfView™
Facts & Multimedia
Discovering the Facts
Multimedia
Contact
The Alliance Center
1536 Wynkoop Street, #803
Denver, Colorado 80202 info_goisle.org
303-731-2643
Billing Address
Post Office Box 11029 Naples, Florida 34101
Feel free to contact ISLE with any questions or concerns by filling in the contact form below and clicking send.
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