Aspirus enlists autonomous lawn mowers to support sustainability

WAUSAU, WI (OnFocus) – Aspirus Health recently introduced autonomous lawn mowers at six locations in its system to support its environmental sustainability efforts. These battery-operated, self-propelled mowers are managed through an application and operate on electricity rather than gas.

“We are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute positively to the health of our environment and the communities and patients we serve,” said Andrew Miller, Director of System Facilities Management and Security for Aspirus Health. “Switching from gas-powered mowers to these autonomous mowers at locations that can currently support the technology was an easy choice. These autonomous mowers help reduce the environmental impact of our lawn maintenance and deliver a higher value to our landscape operations and campuses.”

Aspirus Health locations now operating autonomous mowers are:

• Aspirus Wausau Hospital
• Aspirus Inc. Corporate Office (Wausau, Wis.)
• Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital (Portage, Wis.)
• Aspirus Merrill Hospital
• Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital
• Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital

Implementation of the mowers was completed in July. The autonomous mowers use navigation technology, sensors and programming to move about lawns, mow grass at the desired height and pattern, and return to a docking station for recharging. They can operate rain or shine, night or day.

Aspirus Inc. Corporate Office maintenance teams built solar charging stations for the mowers to support the initiative and minimize electrical usage and costs.

“Mower performance has been strong, and we are running them right through all the recent rainstorms,” Miller said. “The mowers are getting a great response from our patients and employees, too.”

The benefits of the autonomous mowers extend well beyond just entertaining onlookers. The autonomous mowers reduce air and noise pollution. They produce zero direct emissions during operation unlike gas-powered mowers that emit pollution and greenhouse gases. They are also virtually silent, dramatically cutting down on noise pollution.

Other benefits of the autonomous mowers include:

• Electric motors that are more efficient than combustion motors and require less energy and maintenance to operate.
• Lightweight bodies that don’t compact soil, allowing soil to absorb more water and reduce storm water runoff.
• Sharp blades that neatly cut grass, mulching it back into the ground and minimizing the need for fertilizers and chemicals.

“Not only do these autonomous mowers help reduce our carbon footprint, but they are also creating efficiencies for our grounds and landscape teams, making our landscaping maintenance more cost effective, enhancing the look of our campuses, and allowing maintenance staff who also provide grounds services to focus more heavily on critical assets and preventive maintenance programs within our facilities,” Miller said.

Aspirus Health purchased the autonomous mowers locally from Power House Lawn & Leisure in Merrill, Wis. “We appreciate the collaboration we’ve shared with this local Central Wisconsin business in making our autonomous mower initiative a reality,” Miller said. “We’re grateful to them for being such an excellent partner to us.”

Plans are being developed to roll out autonomous mowers at other Aspirus Health locations in the future.

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