Security Pacific Bank, which has nearly 900 branch offices in six Western states, realized in 1989 that xeriscaping could have dramatic results for its operations in Arizona and Nevada.
Although both states have a desert climate, many of the branches in those locations had lush green landscaping. With an eye toward conserving water and reducing costs for water and landscaping maintenance, the decision was made to convert nearly 100 locations to desert landscaping.
“We expected desert landscaping to cut our water usage by 75 percent,” said David Ray, first vice president and southwest regional manager of Real Estate Asset Management for Security Pacific. “With all the attention to water conservation, we felt we were setting a precedent by taking steps to dramatically reduce our bank’s consumption.”

Water conservation is becoming an ever more pressing issue in Arizona, Nevada, California and other states in the western part of the country. Some cities have already enacted ordinances to reduce water consumption. Tougher measures are sure to follow. Desert landscaping, or xeriscaping, offers a solution with multiple benefits. In addition to reducing water consumption, xeriscaping dramatically reduces the associated maintenance costs of lawn mowing, replacing broken sprinkler heads, and other costs such as fertilizing and planting of seasonal grasses.

The change at Security Pacific Bank has added up to impressive savings. On average, water consumption at each branch location was cut by 450,000 gallons, resulting in a $243 annual reduction in water bills and $1,740 in maintenance costs at each site. Despite the costs of converting lush landscaping to xeriscaping, Security Pacific has already recouped its investment.

Posted on Friday, October 31st, 2008 at 10:27 pm filed under Business.