MICHAEL K. LEWIS ACHIEVES LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY RE-CERTIFIED STATUS
Orlando, FL, January 26, 2011 — The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) announces that Michael K. Lewis of Foliage Design Systems, Inc. in Orlando, Florida, has earned re-certification as Landscape Industry Certified Manager (Interior) and continues his nationally certified status. Mike has continuously held this certification since 1993.

Certification enhances an individual’s professionalism, demonstrates a sense of personal achievement, and increased respect and recognition in the profession.

The PLANET certification program, Landscape Industry Certified, is supported and used internationally, shows credibility and commitment to best practices, and leaves a lasting impression. In fact, the International Certification Council (ICC) has worked to align the PLANET certification program with national standards and follow a robust strategic planning initiative.

For more information, visit LandcareNetwork.org, or call the PLANET office at (800) 395-2522.

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With more than 3,500 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals. Some of these professionals have taken the extra step of becoming certified through PLANET and bear the distinction of being known as Landscape Industry Certified.

INTERIOR PLANTS RECEIVE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL BY THE IGCC
The International Green Construction Code (IgCC) has given preliminary approval for the inclusion of live plants as part of their proposed 2012 code revisions. A new subsection of Section 810 will be headed ‘Interior plants and Pollutant Control’ and will outline where and how many plants should be used to comply with this optional green building guideline – which is administered by the International Code Council (ICC). A mandatory plant maintenance program will also be required for compliance.

In public comment hearings on Public Version 1.0 held in Chicago on August 17, 2010, Michael Lewis, President of Green Plants for Green Buildings, along with Charlie Acevedo and Mike Rimland from Costa Farms, presented solid evidence that indoor plants are a good, low energy way to help clean the air of pollutants as well as provide fresh oxygen, which helps improve worker morale and productivity, as well as reduce building related illnesses and employee sick days. It was also pointed out that Australia already has something similar in place called Green Star that includes indoor plants as part of their measurement standards.

Lewis was also representing the Interiorscape Industry Coalition (IIC), a collaboration of non-profit organizations that includes approximately 9,000 companies and 177,000 stakeholders, bringing considerable clout to the proceedings.

After waiting 10 hours for the opportunity to present their case to the committee, a vote was taken and an overwhelming majority voted in favor of the new guidelines!

Following that initial review, minor revisions/improvements were made to the proposed code language and this was resubmitted for round 2 of the evaluation process. Public comments will again be heard in the spring of 2011, with final review and approval in November of 2011 of all code changes that make it through this lengthy process.

October 2010

Foliage Design Systems brings home 2 outstanding awards!

Orlando, FL - Foliage Design Systems (FDS) of Central Florida recently won an Award of Excellence for their atrium renovation of Maitland Forum office building in Maitland, Florida. The award was given by PIA (Plantscape Industry Alliance) at CalScape - their annual conference and trade show held in San Diego, CA on September 2, 2010. Also honored at the same event was Foliage Design Systems of Jacksonville, who was given an Award of Merit for their renovation of Enterprise Park building in Jacksonville, FL. This is the second year that FDS has brought home awards given by PIA during their CalScape event.

The Plantscape Industry Alliance is an organization of professionals who design, install and maintain plants in the interior environment. Dedicated to bringing nature indoors, PIA advocates the use of living plants in interior landscapes to enhance human well-being. For more information visit www.piagrows.org.

Foliage Design Systems is a nationally franchised interior landscaping company that enhances business and commercial property environments with the beauty and benefits of plants. FDS provides a full range of interiorscape professional services that include the design, installation, and maintenance of live plants and decorative planters. They also offer extensive artificial foliage and holiday decoration services. For more information visit www.foliagedesign.com.