This paper examines the challenges and opportunities for LightWash, an innovative
conservation program that leverages state energy efficiency funding to link and
consolidate new and existing water utility incentive programs. LightWash was launched
in September 2002. By late 2002 customers of over 200 local water utilities were eligible
for combined energy and water conservation incentives of up to $450 per unit on
qualifying high efficiency commercial clothes washers. The LightWash program serves
multi-family and institutional common area laundry facilities, businesses and institutions
with on-premise laundry, and coin laundry stores.
High efficiency commercial clothes washers offer savings of 35 to 50 percent or more in
customer water and energy use and wastewater disposal compared to standard models.
In California, there have been several successful water utility rebate programs but only
limited interest from energy utilities in addressing this product category. The synergies
of combined resource incentives supported a more integrated program approach in
California. The LightWash program proposed to leverage a new, statewide, energy
efficiency funding mechanism to effectively consolidate independent water utility
programs; bring additional water utilities to the table; increase customer incentives with
matching energy rebates; and establish a larger, more aggressive, coordinated outreach
and marketing program.
The large geographic territory in California, the number of potential participating water
utilities, and the existence of certain well-established programs presented challenges for
establishing consistent program branding, program rules, timelines, and budgets. On the
other hand, LightWash took advantage of the larger territory and number of utilities to
leverage manufacturer and vendor resources, broaden marketing to statewide
publications, and capitalize on the economies of scale for program outreach. Consequently, LightWash has increased the number of water utilities offering rebates
and enhanced participation rates in pre-existing programs. Additionally, LightWash has
provided customers, especially those with properties in multiple jurisdictions, with a
standardized program, increased rebate amounts, and a centralized, independent source
for information about resource efficient commercial clothes washers. Includes 4 references, table, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 720 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 18 |
| Published : | 01/11/2004 |
