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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.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 01/11/2004 Number of Pages: 18 File Size: 1 file , 720 KB