Cordless Case Study: Blue Sky Green Earth Landscaping

In just two years of business, Amner Deleon has built a roster of nearly 200 clients from the ground up, all through word of mouth and no marketing. His secret is a quiet, emission-free one: he operates his business with battery-powered outdoor power equipment.

“When I started Blue Sky Green Earth Lawn Care I knew I had to do something different from everyone else,” Deleon said. “I have begun to franchise because I can’t handle all the new business.”

Deleon has capitalized on a two-pronged movement away from gas-powered OPE: consumer sentiment is shifting toward preferring companies that use quieter, emission-free equipment while local and state governments are limiting or outright banning the use of gas-powered equipment.

Dr. Bonnie Sager, co-founder of Huntington CALM (Clean Alternative Landscaping Methods) based in New York, has been advocating for transitioning away from gas-burning OPE for years and has watched as her organization’s efforts have taken root across the United States.

“There are now 170 seasonal or all-year bans of gas leaf blowers in the U.S.,” Sager said, adding the figure does not include noise ordinance bans of the tools.

Rather than wait for proposed regulations in his home state of New Jersey to take hold and force him to make a change, Deleon decided to take a proactive approach by making the switch now to grab the likeminded early adopter customers. And even though there is plenty of consumer demand for a quieter, cleaner approach to landscaping with plenty of residential-focused products on the market, Deleon knew his professional demands require all-day power and runtime.

“There are a few variables to consider if you’re thinking about adopting battery-powered OPE [as a professional landscaper],” Deleon said. “You’re going to want to look at three things: the power and runtime of the tools, the breadth of the line including how many tools will run with the same battery, and the charge time.”

After weighing his options, Deleon ended up choosing EGO Commercial.

“The 56V [ARC Lithium™] battery is very well-built and delivers all the power of gas,” he said. “The tools are built for all-day, everyday use and are IPX5-rated, meaning they can get rained on with no ill effects.”

But it was the charging capabilities of the PGX™ Commercial Charging system that was the true difference-maker for Deleon.

“I can charge up to 70 batteries overnight on a simple 15-amp circuit, and even charge bigger 40 amp-hour batteries that I can take into the field with me to charge my handheld batteries on the fly,” he said, referencing the PGX™ Commercial Charging Power Bank, which uses a large format 2.2kWh (40Ah) battery to charge smaller EGO 56V ARC Lithium™ batteries off the grid during the workday via the power bank’s dual 700W ports.

Operators often cite the upfront cost of switching from gas to battery as the main reason they are reluctant to make the change, but Deleon said it’s important to factor in the money you’ll save in fuel and routine maintenance into these numbers. He estimates he’s saving around $6,000 annually in fuel and his maintenance costs thus far have been zero outside of consumables like string trimmer line and blade sharpening/replacement with his new battery-powered tools.

For operators open to making the switch who aren’t on a mandated timetable, Deleon suggests starting with a swap of the noisiest equipment.

“You have to look at the dollars and sense of it,” he said. “Either buy one trailer full of battery-powered tools or at least introduce a battery-powered string trimmer and a blower to see how it works for you and if customers are drawn to the quiet.”

There’s risk with any type of business, but if you’re open to change and adaptable like Deleon and his Blue Sky Green Earth Lawn Care, you could find there’s also plenty of rewards.

Amner Deleon | Founder, Owner

Amner Deleon is the founder and owner of Blue Sky Green Earth, a leading commercial landscape company. Amner has been shaping green spaces with a keen eye for detail for the past five years as a consultant. His expertise extends beyond landscaping; Amner also served as a District Manager for 32 H&R Block locations, where he honed his skills in operational leadership and client management. Additionally, Amner managed over $50 million in revenue as a District Manager at RadioShack, overseeing a significant portfolio with record business growth. His diverse background and hands-on experience in both service-oriented and retail sectors provide him with a strong foundation for success as a business owner.

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