For businesses with outdoor spaces, fall often means ramping up maintenance. However, more mowing and more leaf clearing mean more energy use. This higher fuel consumption means increased expenses and higher emissions. Autumn presents an opportunity. By reassessing equipment, schedules and commercial property maintenance practices before winter, you can reduce emissions, save money and prepare for a smoother spring.

Equipment demand typically peaks as businesses prepare grounds and facilities for winter. This makes fall ideal for reassessing practices. The business case is straightforward — reducing maintenance emissions lowers energy costs, extends the life of equipment and strengthens your reputation for business sustainability.

On average, inefficiencies such as HVAC losses and poor controls waste 30% of energy in commercial buildings. Addressing those losses now lets you capture savings before winter usage spikes.

As Mark James, Associate Professor of Law at Vermont Law and Graduate School, put it, “Energy efficiency is the cheapest way to reduce your carbon emissions and improve the comfort level in your building. Furthermore, customers want to know that the places where they do business are making a commitment to sustainability and will reward those that are taking concrete steps.”

1.   Conducting a Maintenance Equipment Audit

Start with a business emissions audit. List every piece of maintenance equipment — leaf blowers, snow throwers, HVAC systems, even irrigation pumps. Record how often you use each one and track fuel or electricity consumption. Here are some concrete action steps:

• Use a simple spreadsheet or a free tracking app to log runtime and fuel use.
• Identify the “worst offenders” — equipment with high fuel usage and limited efficiency.
• Compare replacement costs with potential savings in fuel and repairs.

Layla Rashid, Strategic Sustainability Manager at Ramboll, suggests asking yourself if your HVAC system, lighting or any other equipment is running when your business is closed and considering what steps you can take to reduce unnecessary energy usage.

As Marcus Griswold, owner of Little Green Myths, points out, “Finding air leaks around doors and windows can reduce your energy bill by 10-20%.” He also draws attention to the importance of insulation. According to Griswold, getting insulation if you don’t already have it or replacing damaged insulation “could reduce your winter energy bill by 30-50%.”

2.   Operational Scheduling for Maximum Efficiency

The way you schedule maintenance can significantly reduce fuel use. Instead of running equipment daily, consolidate tasks to reduce the frequency of daily operations. Below are some practical tips which reduce emissions and cut labor hours:

• Check weather forecasts to plan around dry days, minimizing the need for repeat tasks.
• Train staff to combine trips, such as mowing and pruning, into a single round.
• Align landscape care schedules with natural cycles by mowing less frequently as grass growth slows in fall.

3. Advanced Equipment Options for Lower Emissions

If you’re investing in new tools, consider electric and battery-powered options that are increasingly competitive with gas-powered options. They’re quieter, produce zero on-site emissions and, in some states, may qualify for rebates.

James Walton, Founder and VP of Product Commercialization at ENTOUCH, notes, “A poorly maintained HVAC system can waste up to 40% more energy. … An Energy Management System (EMS) that delivers real-time energy data … typically cuts energy waste by 15-25%.”

Coleman Harrison, Strategic Sustainability Consultant at Ramboll, suggests contacting local utilitis to see if they offer free energy audits or rebates for efficiency upgrades to help businesses save costs and reduce emissions.

4. Maintenance Technique Modifications

Small adjustments in how you maintain landscapes can reduce fuel use and improve long-term soil health:

• Mulching vs. collecting: Mulching leaves adds nutrients back into the soil and reduces hauling needs.
• Cutting heights: Leaving grass slightly longer in fall improves root resilience and reduces mowing frequency.
• Pruning: Focus on strategic cuts to prevent breakage in winter, reducing spring cleanup.
• Soil management: Composting and mulching reduce fertilizer needs.

Nathan H. Patnaude, VP of Landscape Maintenance and Snow at Greenscape, encourages people to consider sustainable landscaping factors, such as “water conservation, improved soil health, reduced maintenance, carbon footprint reduction and native plant cycling.” This aligns with sustainable landscape maintenance practices that save water and minimize chemical use.

5. Winter Preparation Strategies That Reduce Spring Workload

Preventive measures in the Fall mean less intensive work later. Protecting vulnerable plants, applying mulch, and securing irrigation systems saves both time and emissions in spring. The following are some quick actions you can apply immediately:

• Install protective barriers around high-traffic zones to avoid soil compaction.
• Apply eco-friendly brine treatments instead of salt-heavy ice melts.
• Document landscaping and equipment status before winter for easy follow-up in spring.

6. Employee Engagement in Emission Reduction

Employees are on the front line of maintenance. Training them to recognize inefficiencies can generate savings you wouldn’t find on your own.

Carla Hinson, vice presidnet of MRI Software, highlights the role of data, saying, “A review of bills from utilities … can alert facility managers and occupiers to anomalies in water, electricity or HVAC usage.” Something as simple as fixing a leak or turning off the heat when there are no occupants can have a significant impact.

A straightforward yet powerful strategy is thermostat management. Simply lowering the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit during downtime can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10% per year. For most facilities, this means significant annual savings while simultaneously cutting emissions.

7. Measurement and Reporting: Proving the Business Case

Tracking progress is key to proving results. Use free carbon calculators for small businesses to establish a baseline. Take note of these documentation tips:

• Compare monthly energy bills to measure progress.
• Share results with staff and stakeholders — transparency boosts credibility.
• Utilize sustainability certifications, such as Green Business Bureau or Climate Neutral Certified, to validate your efforts.

Jaime Marcotte, Senior Director of Market Development at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, emphasizes, “Start with an energy audit to identify inefficiencies in heating or other building systems … Longer term, [you] can opt to increase energy efficiency through the installation of heat pumps or automated controls that reduce overall energy consumption and can provide savings.”

The Competitive Advantage of Lower-Emission Maintenance

Lowering maintenance emissions is a competitive edge. Customers prefer companies with sustainable practices, and employees value working for organizations committed to real environmental action.

A fall efficiency check helps you reduce emissions, prepare for winter and build resilience for spring. Whether it’s a business emissions audit, smarter scheduling, sustainable landscape maintenance or employee engagement, these changes demonstrate that sustainable business practices and profitability go hand in hand.

About the Author

Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated Magazine. She has over six years of experience writing about sustainability, the circular economy, and better building practices. When not contributing to various reputable publications and advocating for environmental awareness, Rose loves being outdoors and spending time with her pets.  

Feature image courtesy of ganma on Unsplash.