NEWS

City of Charlottesville Receives the 2020 EPA WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the City of Charlottesville with a 2020 WaterSense Sustained Award, the highest level of program recognition, for promoting WaterSense and water efficiency in 2019. The City of Charlottesville was recognized along with 27 utilities, manufacturers, builders, and other organizations that are making it possible for consumers and businesses to save billions of gallons of water each year as part of its Partner of the Year Awards

WaterSense honored the City of Charlottesville as a Sustained Excellence Award winner for a third year in a row and sixth year of receiving a WaterSense award. Highlighted programs and community engagement efforts by Charlottesville’s Water Conservation Program include:

• Issued 253 toilet rebates estimated to save more than 2.3 million gallons of water per year!
• Promoted water savings outside by asking “When is the best time to water your lawn?” in ads that generated over 150,000 impressions and nearly 400 clicks to the City’s Water Conservation website. 
• Launched the Energy and Water Management Program, which promotes saving water and installing WaterSense labeled products internally in the City’s own buildings. The program also worked with Charlottesville City Schools to implement energy and water efficiency projects and education for staff and students. 
• Distributed water saving fixtures to City residents including over 530 water conservation kits which included WaterSense labeled showerheads, faucet aerators, and toilet leak detection tablets. 

 Thank you to City of Charlottesville residents that support and help make the Charlottesville Water Conservation Program such a success! We are excited to find new and innovative ways to save water in Charlottesville.

Read about some of our 2019 Program Highlights (PDF).

Energy and Water Management in Charlottesville City Schools

Charlottesville City Schools and the City’s Energy and Water Management Team are working together to reduce the energy and water footprint of all City schools. On April 11th, 2019 the School Board approved an Energy and Water Performance resolution, showing a commitment to achieving and maintaining high performing school facilities. 

Continuing on past efforts, the City’s maintenance and development teams are specifying high efficiency building equipment, such as high-efficiency chillers and LED lighting, and are enhancing operational control through advanced building automation systems. Charlottesville Schools and the City’s Energy and Water Management Team continue to investigate ways to accelerate the installation of high performance equipment throughout our schools.

The City is also working with each school to raise awareness about energy and water saving practices through education and outreach efforts that include distributing educational materials and providing tips and strategies that students and faculty can use to reduce the energy and water impact at our schools. 

Each quarter a different theme emphasizes aspects of energy and water efficiency/conservation. 

The 2020-2021 themes are:

• Fall (September – November): Commit to Water and Energy Saving Actions!
  • Grades K - 4 Fall 2020 Activity Sheet (PDF)
  • Grades 5 - 12 Fall 2020 Activity Sheet (PDF)
• Winter (December – February): Pick an Action, Do an Action!
  • Grades K - 4 Winter 2020 Activity Sheet (PDF)
  • Grades 5 - 12 Winter 2020 Activity Sheet (PDF)
• Spring (March – May): Make the Action be your New Normal.
  • Spring 2021 Activity Sheet (PDF)
• Summer (June – August): Share and Inspire Others to Save.

Read more about the City’s Energy and Water Management Program on their web page.