As California prepares a crackdown on dry grass landscaping popular at car dealerships, Del Grande Dealer Group is ahead of the curve.
Over the past two years, the group has converted most of its 18 stores to low-water landscaping, combining drought-resistant plants with subsurface irrigation that automatically turns off when rain is forecast. With upgrades completed at 15 stores, only three more are scheduled for renovations before the massive conservation project is complete.
The benefits of replacing more than 50,000 square feet of grass with native flowers and landscaping include approximately $23,000 in annual water savings across the group and $116,000 in rebates through local programs. But just as important to Del Grande is the estimated 2.3 million gallons of annual water savings in the Northern California communities it serves.
“We did this project in the heart of the drought, and at the time, people weren’t watering their lawns, and it was a topic that was really on people’s minds,” said Jeremy Beaver, CEO of the Silicon Valley utility group. “We’re very conscious of being a good community member, and that goes with this whole strategy.”
While the drought has eased thanks to heavier winter rains, regulations are tightening in anticipation of the next wave of drought. Under a water conservation law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2023, California will ban all commercial and industrial properties from using potable water on decorative turf on Jan. 1, 2028.
“Having all that grass was basically just to look pretty,” Beaver said. “It didn’t do anything and required a lot of water.” As local residents were asked to step up their conservation efforts, Del Grande wanted to do his part before the regulatory deadline and partnered with local water districts and landscaper Alpine Landscapes, he said.
To be sure, Beaver added, the upfront costs for the ongoing project are significant. But in the long run, Del Grande will recoup its initial investment and save money on water bills and landscaping maintenance for decades.
There are other benefits for the dealership group, said Bryan Bourke, Del Grande’s compliance and facilities manager. Maintaining the lawn with above-ground sprinklers, as Del Grande had done previously, added costs.
“There are a lot of negatives to a sprinkler car pool because you’re getting cars wet and you’re getting hard water stains on your vehicles,” Bourke said. “Not only are you wasting water by spraying the car, you’re having to wash it, which is wasting more water, time and labor.”
Replacing broken sprinklers and constantly mowing the grass has increased lawn maintenance costs, he said.
The landscaping project also significantly improved the Capitol Expressway Auto Mall in San Jose, where Del Grande has nine of the strip’s 12 stores. Colorful native flowers and grass have replaced the flat, green lawn at all of the group’s dealerships. A city-maintained median uses the same landscaping theme, as does another dealership not owned by Del Grande.
“We tried to capture the yellows and blues to match our logo and tie it all together,” Bourke said. “It’s more eye-catching, brings a lot of color to the auto mall and draws customers in.” Native plants also radiate less heat than grass, and the large plants provide shade.
Del Grande could have taken a less expensive route to comply with California regulations by using artificial grass or rocks for its landscaping, as some other dealerships have done, Bourke said. But that wouldn’t have fit with its philosophy of going the extra mile for its customers and community partners.
“We always try to stay ahead of the curve in everything in our business that we can and this is another solid example,” Bourke said. “While our focus is typically on technology and guest experience, it’s great for our team to know that our water conservation efforts mean something for the greater good with the millions of gallons we’ll save.”