Businesses and Public Agencies Can Get Green $$$ for Grass

Turf Replacement (Photos – MWD)

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California increases Turf Rebate for businesses and public agencies; the increased incentive is already in effect.

By News Desk

Southern California businesses and public agencies looking to replace ornamental grass with more sustainable landscaping can receive a larger rebate from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, right away. It helps sectors comply with state mandate banning nonfunctional turf.

Thanks to a $30 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources, Metropolitan has added an additional dollar to its Turf Replacement Program base incentive – boosting it to $3 per square foot for commercial, industrial and institutional sectors and $4 for public agencies that swap out non-functional grass with California Friendly® and native landscaping.

Metropolitan Interim General Manager Deven Upadhyay said:

We’ve made huge gains in water-use efficiency in Southern California, and businesses and public agencies have the opportunity to help us further that progress. By switching to landscaping that is both beautiful and sustainable, they can help our region better adapt to our changing climate while cutting costs and demonstrating leadership in sustainability in their communities.”

New Rebate

A new rebate launched earlier this year provides an additional $100 per tree that participants incorporate into their turf replacement projects. Some local water agencies may offer additional incentives.

“Every action Southern Californians take makes a difference,” said Krista Guerrero, Metropolitan resource specialist who manages the turf rebate program. “Whether it’s removing the portion of their turf they don’t use, installing a more efficient sprinkler system, or taking shorter showers, it all adds up to big savings.”

For more information on Metropolitan’s conservation initiatives and rebate programs and to apply for a commercial, industrial, institutional or public agency rebate, visit bewaterwise.com.