When the Thomas & Mack Co. planned an external facelift for one of its McCarran Center business complexes, replacing the water-thirsty grass with a water-smart landscape was one of the main project initiatives. Pine and sumac trees had wreaked havoc with the grass, and sprinkler overspray had damaged concrete sidewalks.
“The bottom line was that we wanted to update the property,” said Leslie Shurmur, CPM, the Portfolio Director for the Thomas & Mack Co., which replaced the grass with a vibrant, drip-irrigated landscape. “Removing the sprinkler overspray will prevent damage to our sidewalks that have been replaced due to prior water damage. And, if we are able to save some money on water to pass along to our tenants, then even better.”
The project involved removing 3,950 square feet of grass from around the McCarran Center buildings, saving an estimated 217,250 gallons of water a year. The project was partially funded by a rebate from the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) Water Smart Landscapes rebate program, which pays up to $3 per square foot to property owners who replace grass with drip-irrigated landscapes.
“Converting to water-smart landscape is an effective way to freshen and update a building façade and add visual appeal to a property. It can be done in phases, and there are spin-off benefits,” according to SNWA Conservation Manager Doug Bennett. “Sprinkler overspray creates safety hazards and can damage hard surfaces like sidewalks, parking lots and even building exterior walls, all of which are expensive to replace. And, most conversions pay for themselves over time through rebates combined with lower water bills and operating costs.”
The most recent McCarran Center project was the company’s fifth landscape upgrade since 2017. Thus far, the Thomas & Mack Co. has converted a total of 50,154 square feet at four properties, earning cash incentives of approximately $122,000. More importantly, the projects combined save almost four million gallons of water a year for the community.
“The Thomas & Mack Co. holds its assets long term,” Shurmur said, noting that the company has several other landscape upgrade projects planned. “We are positioning our properties for a market that is more conscious of watering-saving efforts in the community.”
“We need business leaders to champion water conservation. Our economy depends upon water. It’s a resource we need to protect in order to ensure economic sustainability in our community,” Bennett said. He added that property management companies and business owners can help protect our limited water resources by replacing non-functional turf, adhering to mandatory seasonal water restrictions, preventing water waste and participating in water conservation programs.
“The Water Authority offers a number of cash incentives and water-saving programs to help businesses save water and reduce operating costs. We also offer a rebate for installing new water efficiency technologies and devices,” Bennett said. “If it saves water, we probably have a rebate for it.”
Find out how your business can save water and reduce operating costs by contacting one of SNWA’s business experts at 702-862-3740 today and visit snwa.com to learn more
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