Is your company actively seeking ways to conserve water on the properties you serve?
According to the EPA, on average, 70 percent of total water usage on a commercial or residential property comes from exterior water use, mostly landscape irrigation.
They also estimate that due to inefficiency and poor practices, 50 percent is wasted. In addition to wasting water and money, overuse and waste can have a negative perception in the public.
“While it would be nice to eliminate all wasted water, that is not realistic,” says David Grover, a branch manager with Pacific Landscape Management. “Overspray and evaporation are inevitable but finding ways to reduce that waste as much as possible should be the goal. There are newer irrigation products that help deliver water in a more efficient manner. These new technologies and products are not the silver bullet though; having educated and trained staff charged with managing irrigation systems is paramount.”
Grover will cover these key water conservation initiatives, as well as how to educate your team on water conservation and how to promote and sell water conservation projects during his session “Why Smart Landscape Companies Care About Water Conservation” at ELEVATE on Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m. ET.
“Water conservation projects are not the most exciting type of landscape enhancement to sell you customer,” Grover says. “There is not an immediate and obvious impact with water conservation, like you get with planting, seasonal color, tree pruning, etc. However, with proper education and development of case studies, water conservation projects are easy to sell. Reducing waste and demonstrating a return on investment makes these types of projects a no-brainer.”
He will also discuss landscape design principles as well as modifications to existing landscapes that require less water. Learn about water conservation projects including weather-based irrigation, pressure-regulated sprinklers, drip irrigation, hydro zoning, and general system upgrades to new, more efficient products during this session.
“Water conservation initiatives can increase revenue for your business, help save your clients money, avoid penalties from government agencies, and improve the public image of our industry,” Grover says.
Even if your company is already implementing water conservation methods, Grover encourages you to attend his session as there are many new products and creative ideas on how to irrigate more efficiently or reduce the water requirements for a property. There are likely to be some ideas shared that you haven’t thought about before as well.
“If you are not staying on top of progressive and sustainable landscape topics like water conservation, you are likely falling behind,” Grover says. “The world is progressing, and professional property managers and owners are looking for ways to conserve resources to save money and be responsible. If you are not actively researching new ideas to propose to your clients, soon your competitors will, leaving you to look silly and stuck in your ways.”
Want to learn more about water conservation initiatives? Register for ELEVATE and we’ll see you in Orlando, Florida!
