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COVERSTORY


Sustainability Case Study: Sebert’s Commitment Is Ingrained in Every Level


By Jill Odom


SEBERT LANDSCAPE, BASED IN BARTLETT, ILLINOIS, HAS ALWAYS had a goal to create a better environment since they started in 1985. CEO Jeff Sebert says in the last 12 years, they’ve taken a hardcore approach to sustainability.


“Sustainability is progressive and con-


tagious,” Sebert says. “As our business has grown tremendously so has our commitment. The idealism of our staff is aligned with how and what can we do better? We have always stood behind our commitment and our green initiative and each year we find new and better ways of achieving our goals.” One of the ways Sebert has taken the initiative to conserve resources is the creation of their LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold-Certified building.


“I have always been supportive of min- imizing our consumption of energy,” Sebert says. “It is probably the costliest of all our expenses. I have always admired the architectural and aesthetic design of these structures and agree with the idealism


and compliance of the certification of Gold LEED.” This certification is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and has stringent requirements for con- struction and energy-saving amenities. Sebert had to meet standards in energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reductions, improve indoor environmental quality, stewardship for sustainability and design/build in strategies to improve performance and efficiency. Sebert’s 30,000 square-foot corpo- rate office is twice the size of their old facilities but uses the same amount of electricity and natural gas. “The architectural design and place- ment of our windows and exterior sunshades assist in the collection and dis- tribution of sunlight for illumination year- round as well as allow for natural light to flow throughout our workspace, reducing


the use of electrical power and heating/ cooling requirements,” Sebert says. On the roof, they use a LiveRoof tray system that holds 6,500 square feet of decorative allium and tall grasses. This space provides a location for their employees to get some fresh air, but also serves as a place where they can entertain clients, prospects and industry organizations. The green roof also assists in provid- ing insulation, reducing temperatures in the summer and creating cost savings anywhere from 25 to 50 percent. “The plant material absorbs the sun- light and UV rays which preserves our roof membrane-lasting 200 percent lon- ger,” Sebert says. “It detoxifies airborne pollution and creates a natural sound barrier, as well. Therefore, our green roof is not only architecturally and aesthetical- ly pleasing, but its functionality has been extremely beneficial.” Their 15,000 square-foot garage,


which houses their fleet, features solar panels that generate one-third of the


24 The Edge //January/February 2022


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