Local Groups Push for Water-Energy Efficiency Version of ‘Cash for Clunkers’

A few weeks ago we encouraged our Partners to contact their state’s energy office and recommend that water-using appliances are prioritized for the $300 million in rebates made available through the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. Many of you took up the charge and helped spread the word about the benefits of integrating efforts to save water and energy.

In total, River Network heard from groups in 5 states who helped take action toward creating a water-energy version of the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ appliance rebate program. Those states – Idaho, Colorado, Washington, Vermont and Michigan – represent almost every region of the country.

River Network provided our Partners with the contact information of their state energy offices, the amount of funding each state was eligible to receive under the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, and a draft letter describing the benefits of targeting water-using appliances with energy efficiency funds.

Each of the 5 groups that heeded our call employed different strategies to reach out to their community.

Idaho Rivers United responded by sending a letter to their energy office and by publishing a media advisory titled Idaho Office of Energy Resources Should Use $1,462,000 in Stimulus Funds to Save Water and Energy. The letter, which was cosigned by eight other organizations including Snake River Alliance, Winter Wildlands Alliance, Alloway Electric, Modus Architecture, Renewable Energy Resource, Inc., U.S. Green Building Council, Clean Lakes, Inc. and Bittercreek/Red Feather Restaurants, explains why the rebates should prioritize water-using appliances:

ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers use 31% less energy and 33% less water than conventional machines, while qualifying clothes washers cut energy costs by more than one-third and reduce water usage by 50%. The water savings that would result from replacing old clothes- and dishwashers can provide numerous benefits including additional energy, carbon and cost savings

Huron River Watershed Council in Ann Arbor, MI also took advantage of the opportunity to provide rebates for dishwashers and clothes washers by writing a letter to Michigan’s Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, the department in charge of executing programs through the U.S. Department of Energy.

Other groups helped spread the word by reaching out to their communities through newsletters and blogs. The Colorado Watershed Assembly put out a call for action through their Inflow Newsletter, meanwhile the Stilly Snohamish Fisheries Enhancment Task Force in Everett, WA and The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Association both issued alerts through their blogs.

While it is still too early to assess the overall impact of these efforts – the rebate programs will last through 2010 or until funds run out – one thing is certain: thanks to the hard work of these groups the public and a number of state energy offices are becoming increasingly aware of the critical role that water plays in their efforts to conserve energy.

Even if you missed the October 15 deadline to urge your state to adopt larger rebates for water using appliances, you can still play an important role in letting the public know what rebates are available and how long they have to take advantage of the environmental and financial benefits of replacing old clothes washers and dishwashers.

To contact your state energy office and find out more about the energy (and, hopefully water!) efficient appliance rebate program in your state, click here.