By Dean Outhouse

Crescent Snow & Ice Management Services, a Portsmouth based, woman-owned business, recently won two industry awards. The Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA) bestowed their prestigious, “Excellence in Business Award” in June and just last month, Crescent learned that they had been awarded Snow Business Magazine’s, “Superstars of the Environment”.

Crescent’s environmental stewardship began in 2008 when they went to an all paperless billing system, not common in the Snow Removal Industry. “Paperless billing provides a cost-effective, time-efficient and environmentally responsible billing process,” Crescent Owner Jessi Outhouse explains. Crescent also reuses paper before recycling. “There are two sides to every piece of paper. Rather than throwing it into the recycle bin, we staple a stack together and use it while measuring lots.”

 In 2009, Crescent joined the Green Alliance, a growing union of businesses in the New Hampshire Seacoast Region to help navigate the “green” waters. Through the Green Alliance, Crescent was able to team up with Simply Green Biofuels and now powers all of their diesel based equipment with Simply Green’s BioDiesel. According to Dean Outhouse, Certified Snow Professional (CSP), “We were reluctant at first, but it has been amazing,” Dean says. “Simply Green takes care of everything for us—they make different blends for different times of the year, so we don’t have to worry about the fuel gelling up when it gets too cold.” In addition to the use of biofuels, Crescent recently switched to biodegradable hydraulic fluid that is water soluble and non-toxic.

The company’s efforts don’t stop there. The process in which Crescent removes snow and ice has earned major kudos amongst fellow industry members and environmentalists alike. Dean began using Liquid Magic Salt® (the only EPA approved anti/de-icing agent) in their ice removal process. According to Dean, “It (Magic Salt®) works faster and lasts longer than rock salt, which allows us to increase the effectiveness of the salt, while reducing our overall usage.” Crescent has also begun updating and purchasing new Fisher hopper spreader units from Lang’s Corner Garage in Rye that are molded from recycled and recyclable polyethylene plastic. “These units will eliminate the need for gasoline, will allow us to calibrate and adhere to proper application rates, and reduce or eliminate noise pollution,” Dean explains. “The only way you can make plowing operations ‘green’ is by becoming more efficient.”

To learn more about Crescent Snow & Ice Management Services please visit www.crescentplowing.com or visit www.greenalliance.biz/business/crescent-snow-ice-management.