Photo credit: Matthias Cooper
by Quiet Communities editorial staff
Quiet Communities joins nine other entities as a Phase 2 winner of the Department of Health and Humans Services’ (HHS) $1 million Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge. HHS created this national challenge to address environmental and climate change health issues. Applicants were required to describe approaches to mitigate health disparities or environmental justice concerns in disadvantaged communities, caused by exposure to environmental pollution and/or climate hazards.
National nonprofit Quiet Communities described its work conducted in collaboration with the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), to transition land care away from fossil fuel-powered equipment to battery electric equipment and other sustainable practices in disadvantaged communities, including public school districts. This solutions-based approach builds on previous research by Quiet Communities in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other academic researchers showing that fossil fuel-powered land care is a significant source of harmful noise, toxic and carcinogenic emissions and greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing those impacts through a structured transition program, known as the AGZA Certified Green Zone program, benefits the health of workers, the public, ecosystems and climate. Quantifying the magnitude of those impact reductions and the implications for health and environment is an important part of the program and essential in demonstrating its value. Schools that implement the program benefit from environments that are more conducive to teaching, learning and recreation. They also benefit from substantial economic savings that can accumulate over time from avoided fuel costs and reduced maintenance costs. It is well known that excessive noise is detrimental to children’s learning, through impaired memory, comprehension and delayed reading.
Furthermore, the fine particulate exhaust generated by gas equipment can linger in the air for days, potentially affecting the health of children playing outdoors. Minority and low-income neighborhoods bear a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution. Quiet Communities and AGZA’s work is based on the belief that all children and teachers deserve an environment that is quiet, clean, and healthy, and fosters learning. Transitioning land care to cleaner, more sustainable practices is an important step in this direction.
This Phase 2 award is a confirmation of the value of the AGZA Certified Green Zone program and of what can be achieved in addressing environmental justice challenges.
“We are honored to receive this Phase 2 award confirming the value of the AGZA Certified Green Zone program in addressing environmental justice challenges nationwide,” said Jamie Banks, founder and president of QC.
“AGZA is pleased Quiet Communities has received this prestigious award. Quiet Communities has been at the forefront of reducing noise and pollution in the lawn and garden industry with an inclusive approach for all stakeholders involved,” said Dan Mabe, founder and president of AGZA.
For more information about the challenge, please see the HHS press release. For more information about QC visit www.quietcommunities.org, and learn more about AGZA here.
