The U.S. EPA’s WaterSense label, which has typically been used for bathroom appliances, is for the first time being used to certify outdoor water-use products: weather-based irrigation controllers.
The voluntary partnership program offers simple ways to use less water by promoting water-efficient products, services, and even industry professionals. It is both a label for products that perform well and a means to promote water-saving behaviors.
Since the program’s inception in 2006, WaterSense-labeled products and partners have helped consumers save:
- Nearly 125 billion gallons of water
- 16.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity
- More than $2 billion in water and energy bills
The program’s promotional partners, including water utilities, local government agencies, and water and sewer districts that support water-efficiency programs, promote WaterSense-labeled products and educate consumers about how to save water. Many utility partners provide incentives such as rebates for WaterSense-labeled products. The following are just a few examples of rebates for residents or businesses that upgrade with weather-based irrigation controllers:
- City of Corona (Calif.) Department of Water & Power works with the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California to rebate a total of $160 each to residents irrigating less than 1 acre. Additionally, MWD rebates $25/controller for customers irrigating more than 1 acre.
- Hendersonville, N.C., rebates 50% of the controller cost, excluding taxes.
- Santa Barbara (Calif.) rebates 50% of the controller cost.
All rebates are listed on the WaterSense website. To learn how to become a WaterSense partner, visit here.