Act now for one of these...
If you are a Colorado customer of Xcel Energy, it seems you can get a free low-flow, high-efficiency showerhead. What’s the catch — dunno yet. But Xcel has been running an impressive slate of rebates and savings programs and this seems to be right in line with other recent offerings.
If you received a mailer about this program, simply return the postage-paid postcard. Or you can order by phone by calling 1-866-397-3354. I’m not sure what happens when you call (it’s late night as I type this and you apparently need to call during Xcel’s regular business hours). [UPDATE: I ORDERED BY PHONE; THEY SAY IT TAKES 6 WKS TO ARRIVE. QUESTIONS ASKED ARE AS DESCRIBED BELOW. WAITING FOR DELIVERY.]
The fine print: offer ends October 9th (next month), only one per household (don’t be greedy), allow six weeks for delivery (be patient but be pleased that shipping and handling is also at no cost to you), quantities are limited (you’ve got a fair start if you are reading this as I’m writing it in early September), and you have to be a Colorado Xcel customer (that seems fair — but what, I wonder, does Denver Water think about this? Recall that last time Denverites conserved a lot of water, DW wratched up costs to compensate itself).
Part of this initiative may be building out Xcel’s consumer database. They’ll ask you questions including number of persons and showers in household, do you own or rent, and does your water heater run on natural gas. A free showerhead would seem a reasonable quid pro quo for such relatively innocuous information.
Remember a low-flow showerhead conserves not only water but also power, presuming you are heating the water in a standard hot water tank . I’d imagine there are lesser savings, though savings nevertheless, if you have already made the leap to on-demand or tankless water heating.
If you believe you don’t need a low-flow showerhead, take the flow challenge: cut the top off a standard gallon milk container, fit it around your showerhead and time your standard shower flow for 24 seconds while catching the water in the container. If you fill the container in 24 seconds or less — you’ll save with Xcel’s gift.
If this program is of interest to you, don’t forget to check out Xcel’s other rebate programs.
**** CONSUMER UPDATE ****
<<SEPT 10TH: Mayor John Hickenlooper has announced that the City of Denver will receive $6,079,500 from the U.S. Department of Energy to improve community energy efficiency through its Greenprint Denver programs. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) will provide dedicated funding for the City to embark on a community-wide energy savings plan.
The community-wide energy savings plan will reach Denver’s neighborhoods in the coming weeks and months through a variety of projects, including:
- Expanding home weatherization assistance, helping Denver residents stay warm this winter;
- Installing 7 bicycle checkout kiosks near light rail stations, part of the upcoming bike-sharing program;
- Providing job training to homeless veterans to plant 4,000 trees in Denver neighborhoods.
Funds have also been allocated to make improvements to City facilities and infrastructure, including to:
- Conduct energy audits in recreation centers and libraries;
- Make energy efficiency improvements in City facilities, expected to save $400,000 annually;
- Accelerate the adoption of building and energy codes to better reflect energy efficiency in building projects; and
- Replace incandescent traffic signals with LEDs at 200 intersections. The new lights use 88 percent less energy.
Projects are expected to begin later this fall. For more information.>>
Urban Green 