Pasadena City College Becomes First Certified ‘Green Zone’ in City

Pasadena City College (PCC) will celebrate its status as the first American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) certified “Green Zone” in Pasadena on Tuesday, June 11, at 12 noon on the PCC Colorado Campus. The distinction is awarded by the AGZA to institutions that transition to using solely low-noise, zero-emission, battery-electric equipment for all landscaping and grounds operations.

To earn the certification, PCC Facilities management and staff attended several community workshops and partnered with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and AGZA to test tools and conduct education. The college also participated in the SCAQMD Electric Lawn & Garden program, trading in old gas equipment for new battery electric alternatives at nearly an 80% cost reduction.

PCC has achieved the Level 2 certification standard, a college statement said.

Representatives from PCC, SCAQMD and AGZA will speak at Tuesday’s event about the benefits to the college and the community. The event will be held at the PCC Quad and will feature static displays of AGZA-certified groundskeeping equipment.

The Studio City-based American Green Zone Alliance is committed to improving quality of life for communities, working conditions for operators and best practices for the landscape maintenance industry. AGZA Founder Dan Mabe has devoted over two decades to developing and applying clean battery technology for the grounds maintenance industry.

On its website, AGZA said issues with gas lawn and garden operations in residential and commercial settings are now front and center in communities nationwide, including emissions, worker exposure, solid waste, toxic waste, noise pollution and health impacts. The alliance offers workshops, symposiums, cost-benefit analyses and certification to help properties transition to lower-impact operations, such as ELF (Environmental Landscape Footprint) reports.

“Electric operations offer many advantages, but the transition is full of challenges. AGZA’s leadership and experience help avoid the predictable pitfalls,” according to the organization’s website. 

PCC, established in 1924, has been providing the San Gabriel Valley with a high-quality, innovative learning environment that inspires student success. It is considered one of the top colleges in the state for transfers to the California State University and University of California systems.