California has a drought problem. And Pan American Properties wants to help.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has imposed strict watering regulations on homeowners in many jurisdictions throughout southern California, restricting them to outdoor watering 30 minutes a day, three times a week. Combine this with skyrocketing temperatures, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for homeowners to maintain their residences. However, waiting for things to change isn’t a practical option, says Rick Hoegler, CEO of Pan American Properties, because he expects these regulations to continue.
So, Pan American is launching an initiative to help homeowners be more proactive by reducing their water and energy consumption to reduce costs.
“I’ve created an energy-saving package for my clients. We’ve gone out to the market and looked at what we can do, given the relationships we have, to see how we can ensure your properties continue to look polished.” Pan American has devised a four-prong attack to help you weather this crisis.
Artificial Turf
One of the ways Pan American can help homeowners is by offering an alternative lawn solution. Rick says that many athletic fields have begun converting their grassy expanses to artificial turf because it significantly reduces water consumption. “There’s a lot of purely decorative turf. Many cities are ripping it out—from islands and lawns to medians—and replacing it with mulch or more drought tolerant landscaping that needs very little water.” As a result, Pan American believes the first step towards reducing water consumption is replacing your lawn with artificial turf or other drought-tolerant plant material.
Smart Irrigation Controller Installation
Another way to reduce water consumption is by installing smart irrigation controllers. These devices are satellite driven and can monitor watering schedules and run times automatically to meet your landscape’s specific needs. So, they know how much you should and shouldn’t be watering based on the time of year. They are a proven technology to improve your outdoor water use more effectively.
Variable speed pool pumps
California similarly has an energy problem, but the push for renewable energy is costly, which is why Pan American recommends variable-speed pool pumps—a relatively inexpensive way to reduce your carbon footprint. With energy-efficient variable speed pool pumps, you can control the pump’s speed, given the activity for which it’s being used. This energy-saving device will pay for itself in two years.
Exterior lighting retrofit to LED
Another way to reduce your energy consumption is by retrofitting your existing landscape lights with LED lighting. These cost less to operate than traditional incandescent bulbs and last longer. According to The Department of Energy, while a 60W incandescent bulb will last for approximately 1,000 hours, a 12W LED bulb (similarly bright) will last as long as 25,000 hours.
How Pan American Can Help
There’s no time like the present to contribute to a better California future. If you’re interested in an energy-reducing assessment, let us know. We’re happy to be your reduced water and energy consumption partner. Call us today at (888) 754-9700 or email us at [email protected] to learn more.
