CNGA Looseleaf Dec 2018 Jan 2019

Recognizing a potential opportunity to address all three needs, Colorado Springs Utilities launched its Homebuyers Program in 2018, as a collaboration with local independent nurseries. Homeowners in the utility’s service territory, who signed up as new water customers, were sent postcards offering them $100 certificates to buy waterwise trees and shrubs at local nurseries, if they attended a 90-minute waterwise landscape class. “Lots of people, especially new homeowners, are looking for advice on how to conserve water in their landscapes. They want to know about plant choice, watering information, and landscape design to keep long-term maintenance and water bills down,” said Catherine Moravec, Horticulturist and Senior Water Conservation Specialist at Colorado Springs Utilities. “We thought: ‘What if we could incentivize people to start a relationship with us through a $100 coupon?’ If we could bring them to us, we wondered: ‘What would we tell them?’ So, we developed a curriculum for a waterwise landscape class,” Moravec recalled. “As people are looking to invest in their landscapes, it seems like a really good opportunity to start conversations to make sure the landscapes are suitable for our climate.” Her colleague, Water Demand Management Group Project Manager Scott Winter, applied for and was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board to help fund half of the certificate amount. The other $50 is paid by the utility. Five independent plant retailers located in El Paso County agreed to participate in the program, honoring the certificate, reporting the sales to the utility and getting reimbursed the $100. Four are CNGA members: Spencer's Lawn and Garden Centers, Phelan Gardens, Harding Nursery, and Heidrich’s Colorado Tree Farm Nursery. They were also invited to join utility staff and the city forester in developing the lists of drought-tolerant trees and shrubs. The tree list includes 29 species while the shrub list has 32 species. “We really want to encourage people to buy plants that are long-lived and waterwise, instead of water-lovers like plains cottonwood,” Moravec said. The selected new homeowners received postcards from the utility starting last May, and were required to register and take one of the waterwise landscape classes before the end of September. Each class was taught by one of the four water conservation staff members, and included information on the utility’s water system and supply. The class also covers water use in landscapes, the reasons to invest in landscapes, the benefits of water efficiency, and resources available from the utility such as rebates on efficient irrigation equipment. Then, it ends with landscape design tips, appropriate plant choices, and watering techniques that are most efficient. “It is really important for our customers to understand that water is a limited resource in Colorado. We have a growing population, and have to be careful with what we use in the landscape to have enough water for all uses,” she said. After each class, attendees were given the $100 certificate good toward the purchase of the listed drought-tolerant trees and shrubs. The certificate expiration was originally set in October 2018, to push homeowners to get into the nurseries soon after the classes, but the expiration was extended until June 2019. “We have learned that we need to give people a little more time to make decisions and purchases,” said Winter. “We’re being more realistic about their readiness to make investments in their landscapes. The people participating are really engaged New homeowners need cost-effective products to landscape and maintain their yards. Nurseries need to attract customers, especially new ones with an interest in drought-tolerant plants. Water utilities need to educate customers about their programs and water conservation. continues on page 15 » 13 LooseLeaf  December 2018/January 2019 colorad o nga.org Photos courtesy of Colorado Springs Utilities