Suburban Exterminating has earned Green Shield Certification for their new Suburban Green Program, after undergoing a rigorous evaluation conducted by the IPM Institute of North America at the company's base in Smithtown, NY. The company is the eighth in the nation to earn the distinction. Suburban services businesses and residences on Long Island east of the Meadowbrook Parkway.
Green Shield Certified aims to help identify companies that excel in managing pests with a minimum of pesticides. Suburban, founded by Martin and Hal Byer in 1961, has had a life-long focus on training and professionalism, making Green Shield Certified a good fit.
Lynn Frank has served as technical director for the company since 1985, responsible for staff training and trouble shooting. Frank is a Board Certified Entomologist, examined and certified by the Entomological Society of America. "As a company, our goals have always been to solve our customers' pest problems using less pesticide. If we do need to make a treatment, we train our technicians to treat smart - using low toxicity pesticides in a way that reduces the chance that people, kids and pets will be exposed."
"Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is the smart way to manage pests," according to Dr. Thomas Green, director of the IPM Institute, who evaluated Suburban's new service. "Pests need food, water and shelter. Green Shield Certified providers focus on denying pests access to those - creating an effective, long-term solutions with pesticide use as a last resort."
For example, Suburban provides unique services such as installing seals on the bottom of exterior doors including garage doors. These "sweeps" not only deny pests access, they keep dirt outside and heat and air conditioning inside, saving energy and money. Other services include building and roof repairs, installing chimney caps, gutter repair and installation. Suburban has three full-time carpenters on staff to repair pest damage and "pest proof" buildings.
Suburban's Green Program, and the new independent, third-party certification, is just one way Suburban Exterminating strives to stay ahead of the curve. Frank believes most of the company's current customers will choose the new service over the next few years. "It works and it's the right thing to do. There's great demand, we're seeing it grow all the time."
Green Shield Certified is operated by the IPM Institute of North America, Inc., an independent, non-profit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin. Modeled after the Institute's award-winning IPM STAR program for schools, Green Shield Certified is available to pest control companies and services, as well as facilities other than schools