California City Reduces Waste with Green Features in Commercial Landscaping

Drought-tolerant landscaping and water-saving technologies are becoming more critical for commercial buildings in the San Diego’s semi-arid climate.

Although water usage was down 12 percent through September over the first three quarters of last year, the San Diego County Water Authority intensified its call for conservation on Oct. 30.

The announcement said agencies, including the Water Authority, will receive less water in 2009 than in 2008.

Last year, the Water Authority received 35 percent of its water from the state. Next year’s allocation would only be 15 percent.

“This initial allocation means water supplies statewide are approaching record low levels,” said Fern M. Steiner, Water Authority board chair, in the announcement. “It is likely that next year we will have less water available to meet the needs of San Diego County.

“It is imperative that residents, businesses and public agencies redouble their efforts to reduce water use whenever and wherever possible, especially outdoors.”

Businesses that incorporate water-saving technologies in and around commercial buildings reduce water-related expenses as well as energy consumption.

David McCullough, president of the American Society of Landscape Architects in San Diego, said consumers are seeing the cost savings more clearly.

“Nowadays, more than ever, there is a tie of cost savings to the earth movement, which makes it a bit more acceptable to more people,” he said.

McCullough, a principal with McCullough Landscape Architecture, estimated 75 percent of commercial landscape projects are built with energy efficiency and the environment in mind.

“Everyone is asking … to be LEED-certified or to be designed to LEED standards,” he said.

Los Angeles-based Kilroy Realty built Kilroy Sabre Springs, an office campus off Interstate 15 and state Route 56, to be environmentally friendly and water conscious.

Reclamation System

San Diego-based Reno Contracting served as the general contractor and developed a groundwater discharge system that reclaims water and reuses it. This system diverts 2,500 gallons of water per day, or 1 million gallons per year.

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the project LEED certification for those efforts.

“More and more we see corporate campuses needing a face-lift or just wanting to be more environmentally conscious,” said Jason Jones, an associate with Wimmer, Yamada and Caughey landscape architects.

The firm recently completed a landscape redesign for Columbia Center, a 27-story high-rise on West A Street.

Sentre Partners, a real estate investment and services firm, hired Wimmer, Yamada and Caughey to replace its landscaping with drought-tolerant plants and increase the efficiency of its irrigation system.

“As economic pressures grow, energy costs rise, profit margins shrink, and environmental responsibility becomes more vital, we are offering businesses a solution to easily reduce the cost and waste of energy and other resources,” said Gus Ezcurra, CEO of Advanced Telemetry.

The Larkspur-based firm recently introduced a new climate control and resource management solution for commercial application. EcoView, the product, helps building owners control energy and water costs and reduce the environmental impacts of running a business.

Already, Opera Patisserie Fines in Sorrento Valley has installed EcoView to save on its utility bills.

Conservation Incentives

These efforts by commercial water consumers have saved water, but not enough.

Lori Swanson, water resource specialist for the county Water Authority, said the agency offers numerous water conservation incentives.

“We are seeing quite a bit more requests for staff to come out and talk to businesses to let them know what can be done to save water and money,” said Swanson.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California offers rebates to encourage conservation efforts among businesses in its 26 member agencies, including the San Diego County Water Authority.

Its “Save Water, Save A Buck” program includes cash rebates on a wide variety of water-saving technologies, including low-flush toilets and urinals, weather-based irrigation controllers for outdoor landscaping, synthetic turf and other industry-specific water conserving devices.

The San Diego Water Department released a tip sheet Oct. 30 for area residents and businesses. It said to adjust the schedule on irrigation controllers, replace old batteries in irrigation systems, retain moisture in soil by using mulch, incorporate native and drought-tolerant plants, make use of the rain that does fall and don’t water on rainy days.