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Abstract
Throughout the past decade, the city of San Angelo, Texas and surrounding areas have
experienced extreme drought levels and consequent water shortages that have caused
homeowners and businesses to go to great lengths in order to conserve water. This project used
cost-effectiveness analysis to compare the economic efficiency of a water conservation method
called xeriscaping to the efficiency of traditional turf landscaping. It compares the initial fixed
costs, such as materials and installation costs, to variable reoccurring costs, such as maintenance
and lawn care expenses. The uniform comparison provides a user-friendly reference guide to aide
consumers in the decision making process when comparing various landscaping plans. It was
concluded that one hundred percent xeric yards are the most cost efficient, but any of the
alternatives presented that involve a portion of xeriscaped area, no matter how small, proved to
be more efficient than one hundred percent turf.