“This milestone demonstrates Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s leadership and vision in prioritizing both environmental and human health,” said Dan Mabe, Founder and President of AGZA. “They’ve shown that even large, complex landscapes can make this shift—and we congratulate them on this well-earned achievement. We hope their example will inspire other institutions across New York and beyond to pursue cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable maintenance practices.”
To achieve this certification, the Garden phased out gas-powered handheld tools and significantly reduced the use of gas-powered vehicles and equipment. This shift aligns with the Garden’s broader sustainability initiatives—including stormwater management in the Shelby White and Leon Levy Water Garden and the green roof atop the Diane H. and Joseph S. Steinberg Visitor Center—serving as a model for how urban institutions can make incremental, tangible improvements to foster environmental health for generations to come. “Brooklyn Botanic Garden is setting the bar for sustainable landscape management in urban environments,” said Jamie Banks, PhD, MSc, Founder and President of Quiet Communities. “By embracing quieter, cleaner equipment and committing to best practices, they’re protecting the health of their staff, visitors, and neighbors while reducing their carbon footprint. We’re proud to work with AGZA to support these meaningful changes.”