It’s a passion for “going green” that drives Mike Merlesena not only in business, but also in everyday life. Therefore, when he started his own irrigation installation company, the name Environmental Enhancements Irrigation was a perfect fit. He says it was something that he came up with “out of nowhere” but once he thought of it, he knew it worked on more than one level. “Going to client’s homes and doing work is enhancing their environment, but I’m also conscious about being green and enhancing not only each individual environment, but our environment as a whole,” Merlesena says. “I like that the name has that dual meaning.”

Merlesena says he’s long had a passion for the environment and he’s sincere in his efforts to conserve water. In his everyday life he also recycles everything, washes with cold water and doesn’t eat red meat, known to contribute greatly to the earth’s carbon footprint. “I re-use any material I can, buy all paper products from recycled sources and don’t leave lights on in rooms that don’t need to be on,” Merlesena says. “Most of these are common sense things that most people just don’t take the time to do or educate themselves on.”

As Merlesena moves his new business forward, he says his plan is to really focus on all-natural and green alternatives. He plans to get into fertigation, the application of fertilizers and other water-soluble products through an irrigation system, but wants to push only all-natural products instead of standard fertilizers. “I feel like it’s important to keep everything consistent,” he says. “Going green and being organic fall in line with where I want to go with my business, so I’m making an effort to keep them my primary focus.”

This is one of three stories that ran in Lawn & Landscape’s Water Works e-newsletter. For more coverage on irrigation and Environmental Enhancements:

Back to his roots: After making rounds in the irrigation industry, this contractor returned to where he began, installation.

Full coverage: Mike Merlesena offers installers insight after years of working on the supply side.