Drew Dixon
Jacksonville’s utility agency is being recognized nationally for promoting water conservation in the city.
JEA received the award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in September for promoting the WaterSense program. The program helps consumers by providing advisories on how to save water around households and businesses. The program provides labels around water outlets and appliances that explains how to efficiently use water without unnecessary waste. In Jacksonville, that program applied to 2,100 manufacturers, builders, retailers, utilities, government and nonprofit organizations.
“Our customers are increasingly looking for ways to conserve resources and save money, and JEA is committed to providing those solutions,” said JEA Chief Customer Experience Officer Sheila Pressley.
The WaterSense award from the EPA honored several elements of JEA’s 2023 program including:
— Participating in more than 20 community events, where customers had the chance to win water-efficient products and receive information about rebate programs.
— Working with The Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores to promote rebates for WaterSense labeled toilets and irrigation controllers. Signs are posted in store aisles and stickers are placed on the products for rebates offered in more than 40 stores in the region. JEA’s rebates also are listed on store websites for local customers who shop online.
— Providing rebates for nearly 800 water-efficient irrigation controllers and 1,540 toilets.
— Installing WaterSense labeled showerheads and aerators as a part of JEA’s Neighborhood Energy Efficiency program to assist low- to moderate-income customers.
“Our WaterSense Award winners for 2024 made it easy for Americans to make water-efficient choices and find WaterSense labeled products and homes that save water, energy, and money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Veronica Blette, acting associate director of the water infrastructure division in the EPA Office of Wastewater Management.
The EPA’s WaterSense program is estimated to have saved $207 billion in water and energy bills and 8.7 trillion gallons of water across the country since it was established in 2006, according to the EPA.
