Did you know that Santa Fe offers rebates to customers that upgrade their existing irrigation equipment
or add a rain barrel?
Irrigation
Irrigation equipment including a smart controller and a rain sensor qualify for rebates through the City of Santa Fe.
Traditional sprinkler controllers are set to run at a certain time of day for a certain number of minutes. They run according to the set times whether it’s needed or not.
A smart controller (or ET controller) can sense the weather conditions in your area and adjust the amount of water used based on those conditions. The sensor measures rainfall, humidity and temperature to shorten or skip the watering cycle. If the weather is unusually hot or dry, the controller can extend the watering cycle as well. You could save at least 25% of the water that’s used in a typical irrigation season.
The rebate for a smart irrigation controller is the cost of the controller up to $400. Find the models that qualify for the rebate here: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/product-search.
Rain Barrels
Rain barrels capture water from a roof and hold it for later use such as watering a lawn or a garden. According to the EPA, rain barrels have the ability to save the average homeowner 1300 gallons of water. Rain barrels are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. Many come in various colors that can match or accent the color of your house. Flat, rather than round, tanks are a great solution that can sit directly against a wall minimizing the space required. Rain barrels can also work with both traditional canales or rain gutters. Since water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon, a full rain barrel can be quite heavy. It’s important to make sure the barrel sits on a smooth, sold, and level surface.
All of our rain barrels qualify for a rebate, with the amount that you get back dependent on the size of the rain barrel that you purchase. To apply for the rebates, click here: https://savewatersantafe.com/rebate-application/.
Even if you are not able to take advantage of Santa Fe’s rebate program, capturing rainwater and watering efficiently with drip irrigation make great “water sense” for every homeowner.