The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a WaterSense® Excellence award to JEA during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas on Sept. 27. The national award recognizes JEA for its support and promotion of the EPA’s water conservation program.
WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the EPA,?is a label for water-efficient products and a resource for helping consumers learn ways to save water. More than 2,100 manufacturers, builders, retailers, utilities, government, and nonprofit organizations partner with WaterSense to produce and promote water-efficient products, programs, and homes.
“Our customers are increasingly looking for ways to conserve resources and save money, and JEA is committed to providing those solutions,” Chief Customer Experience Officer Sheila Pressley said.
WaterSense recognized JEA with a Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products award for JEA’s water conservation achievements in 2023. These include:
· 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.
Since the EPA launched the program in 2006, nearly 46,000 WaterSense labeled models of plumbing and irrigation products have helped consumers and businesses save 8.7 trillion gallons of water; the amount of energy needed to pump, treat, and heat water by 997 billion kilowatt hours; and $207 billion in water and energy bills. These savings also helped prevent 379 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to planting 6.3 billion trees.
“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.
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About JEA
JEA is a municipal utility providing safe, reliable and affordable services to more than one million residents across four Northeast Florida counties. JEA is not owned by investors and does not earn a profit. It was created by the City of Jacksonville to meet the electricity and water needs of those who live in Jacksonville and surrounding communities. JEA’s 2,200-plus workforce is dedicated to meeting customer needs, both today and for generations to come, while protecting our precious natural resources and supporting our region’s growth and economic development. Learn more at jea.com.