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Home My WebLink About0442.091" - October 10, 1~91 HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto, Calitornia water Consen-pation Incentives programs H~mbers of the council: -----"' -.. -.... -~-- As part of this fiscal yearts budgEt, f~nds were approved for pilot programs to offer incentives to customers who install specific indoor wa~er conservation devices. The purpose of this staff report 1s to describe in more detail the programs which have been dev210ped and will be implemented beginning this montr .. l~e report is informational only and no Council action is raquired. Summary Program Description There are two basic programs, each targeted towards different customer classes. One program ofters financial incentives for replacinq existing toilets with ultra-low flush (ULF) models and is targeted toward residential. multi-family and smaller commercial customers. Half of the cost of the new toilet, up to $75 will be rebated to eligible customers who meet program requirements. (Depending on funds availaple and customer acceptance, this program may be expanded later in the year to include incentives for installation of ultra-low flow showerheads as well.) The second program offers financial incentives for commercial customers to make a variety of sanitary, cooling, and process water use modifications that will conserve water. This program ~ill include rebates for readily available teohnologies and also a110. customers to propose unique or specialized projects. Copies of the general information brochures developed for each of the two main programs are attached to this report for your reff'.rence. CMR:442:91 ".'-" i ! , , 1 - Program Background The City's updated Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) included a series of ce~and-5ide progra~s designed to achieve long-te~ water use efficiency improvements in Palo Alto (CMR:129:91). It was determined that it would not be prudent to embark on large scale programs until conservation disincentiy~s were removed from the City's c~ntract with its supplier, the San Francisco water Department (SFWD). To this end, SFWO has been actively working with Palo Alto and other SFWD suburban customers to determine the best way to ~odify the contract. Meanwhile .. under continuing drought conditions, 'Wint,er water UGe reductions were incr~asinqly difficul~ for customers to achieve once the low-cost, -easy· measures already had been taken. Thererore, staff felt it ~ould provide timely assistance to customers it the City began the indoor incentives programs outlined in the UWMP on a pilot-scale basis. In keeping vith the decision not to embark on a program with major impacts until SFWD contract issues were settled, staff pla~~ed only pilot scale programs for FY 91/92~ The objective of these pilot programs is both to provide customer assistance and to qain axperience with specific program desiqn and delivery mechanisms. EKperience gained from these programs will qreatly imprvve any larger-scale program implementatior.. Program Deta i 1 s The ~ollowinq will provide more specific information about ~he desiqn and objectives of the two incentive programs4 3ot~ programs begin in OCtober and ~ill run until either incentive funds are e~ended or May 1992# whichever occurs first. The tarqet for these pilot proqra~s is to achieve a total of 135 1 000 ecf in li.nnual water savings. (A eef is a water unit equal to 7-48 qallcns4 > 1) Ultra-1Q.W: flush CULf) Toi1.rtm.Bebatgs tJLF toilets use 1.6 "allons per flush or l~ss and can provide a substantial water savings if they replace older toilets that use trom J.S to 7 gallons or more per flush. 'l'ne specialized desiqn of OLF toilets makes them very effective, much more so than their -low flush-(3.5 gallon) counterparts. The lo~ flush toile~s we~~ s~andard toilets vith smaller tanks, therefore they used C!IR: 442: 91 ... -~ ....... ~--.-..... --,.,.' less water~ As a result, th~se low flush toilets oft~n required -double flushingM. The ULF toilets, which come in a ~ull spectrum of styles, colo~s and sjzes, are engineered to avoid flushinq problems. For most peoplE, an ULF toilet ~ill represent a &ubst~ntial operational improveme~t ever their existing toilet in addition to saving substantial amounts of ~ater4 The rebate program "'ill cover up to half the cost of an ULF toilet (installation not included), up to a maximum of $75. A simple application process ensures that a quality toilet ~hich :eets required standards is installed either by a do-it yourselfer or a pl\ll!Lbing cont:ractor~ verification '.lill be made to assure that proper permits have been obtained and that the installatio~ was done properly. Rebates ~ill not be issued retroactively to custo~ers ~ho installed ULF toilets prior to the start of the program4 The main target group for the ULF toilet rebate prograru is residents, although funds have been earmarked for small commercial customer& as well. This program is for replacement of tank-type toilets, ho~ever, and nat commercial-style units. staff is currently trying to arrange for the old toilets replaced through this program to be crushed and recycled. Since use of recycled toilet materials is a newer process, it may not be cost effective to arrange locally for such recycling. Eowever, if it can be arranged, recycling adds a extra environmental benefit to the program effort. 2) Major Aecoun,!::s Incentives Prooram This program offers rebates on a $ per ccf saved basis for a variety of actions applicable to businesses, ranging from commercial toilet replacement to cooling to'Wer modification and controls on process equ1pment~ The rebate levels will vary ~ith the nature and cost-effectiveness of different actions, A special category of "custom-rebates is offered for projects propose~ by the customer that do not fall into a standard category. These project proposals are gathered over a period cf months, evaluate~ and then funded in priority order based on their cost-effectiveness for the custo~er and the utility. There yill be a minimum water savings requirement for eligibility in this prograi:n~ uhich is targeted to ... ·rds larger commercial and industrial customers. AS ~ith the ULF toilet program, rebates will not be issued retro~ctively for actions taken prior to the start of this progra~. CMR:442:91 "-~.'" I I :r-, f· I I ". <. < t I I I L I I CODclus:l.oo Effective this month, the Utilities Department is offering rebates for ~ltra-low flush toilets and a variety of commercial water-saving retrofits. These pilot programs will be run until budgeted funds are. expended or May 1992, ;,,'hichever comes first. A compon~nt of the City'a long-term Urban water Management Pl~n, these pilot proqrams are beirlg offered at this time for the additional benefit of helping customers meet drought-related indoor water use reduction re~irements. Respectfully 5ub~itted, .~ .~ C?-(-,~--:"J <;7 DEBRA KATZ t..--' Manager, Energy services !<--t ...... J .£, fr'"-j RI~ L. Yomf~ Dire!ctor of Uty~ s Attachments: Ultra-Lev-Flush Toilet Rebate Brochure Water Efficiency Program BrochUre Relateo CMRs: CMR: 129:91 urban Water Kanaqement Plan CMR: 294:92 91/52 Budget 0IR:442: 91 , r ,