Water Conservation Program Delivers Better than Expected Results

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - April 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Media Contact:

Windsor Efficiency PAYS®

Town of Windsor

Paul Piazza, Water Conservation Program Coordinator

(707) 838-5357

ppiazza@townofwindsor.com

WINDSOR RESIDENTS REPORT HIGHER THAN EXPECTED SAVINGS

FROM INNOVATIVE WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Windsor, Calif. — More than 300 residents in the Town of Windsor have enrolled in the Windsor Efficiency PAYS® program, installing upgraded water and energy saving appliances in their homes and apartments.  Windsor PAYS®, made available by the town just over six months ago, is an innovative water conservation program that provides residents with immediate savings on utility bills, no upfront cost or new debt and easy installation of very efficient products and appliances. The program also offers drought resistant landscaping for those dry summer months.

“The PAYS® program is available to homeowners and renters and is unique to other water and energy incentive programs because of the high level of customer uptake.  The secret is in the program design, which creates an offer that works,” says Paul Piazza, Water Conservation Program Coordinator for the Town of Windsor.

The PAYS® program allows program participants to “pay as you save®” with no loan and no debt associated with repayment.  Participants are offered a specified selection of upgrade measures, such as high efficiency washing machines, toilets, showerheads, faucet aerators and drought resistant landscaping.  After installation, participants pay a surcharge on their water bill with the assurance that their estimated savings on combined utility bills (energy/water) will exceed the bi-monthly surcharge.

"[PAYS] is a wonderful program! My family saved $101 on our first bill,” says Jo Boucher, Windsor resident and family of four.  "I'm telling everyone I know to sign-up".

More than 300 homes/apartments have been upgraded to date. Though individual household savings vary widely based on usage and the measures installed, PAYS® customers are saving, on average, nearly $30 on their bi-monthly bill, (after factoring in the surcharge), and an estimated yearly average of 10,000 gallons in water savings. This saves the Town of Windsor approximately 3 million gallons of water a year.  Households of three or more and those who install the landscape measure stand to benefit the greatest.  

Depending on the amount of lawn replacement and irrigation, the current average estimated water savings per landscape install is 30,000 gallons a year. This amounts to an average of more than 40,000 gallons of potential water savings per year, per household when combined with the average savings for basic measures inside the home.

The PAYS® program, piloted through a joint effort of the Town of Windsor, Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority and the U.S. Department of Energy, is a win/win opportunity – not only giving residents an opportunity to reduce their water and energy bills but also helping the local water utility reduce demand for a limited water supply.

Since PAYS® assures that water savings will exceed monthly surcharges, utility customers must meet eligibility requirements determined by a program certified contractor in order to participate.  Qualifying Windsor residents are encouraged to participate in the program by June 30, 2013, when the pilot program is scheduled to end.  Approval to extend the program beyond this timeline will be considered by the Town Council at its April 17 meeting.

To find out more, call (707) 565-6472 or visit windsorefficiencypays.com

(Program Participants include: Town of Windsor, Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, Sonoma County Energy Independence, Sonoma County Water Agency, Climate Protection Campaign, Bottom Line Utility Solutions, Water Management Inc., Sonoma Mountain Landscape, Niagara Conservation, Standards of Excellence, and Chilipepper Sales.)