News Releases from Region 02
EPA Recognizes WaterSense Conservation Leader in New York
SUEZ New York Awarded for Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products
NEW YORK – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced SUEZ North America in New York as a 2020 WaterSense Excellence Award winner for being a leader in water efficiency and conservation efforts. Nationwide, 29 awardees produced and promoted the adoption of WaterSense labeled products, homes, and programs, which have helped Americans conserve more than 4.4 trillion gallons of water while saving $87 billion on utility bills since 2006.
“We commend SUEZ New York for its accomplishments to educate consumers on cost-effective measures for conserving water,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “EPA’s WaterSense partners are committed to being good stewards of our invaluable water resources. Our awardees go above and beyond to promote water-efficient products that help our communities and save the environment.”
The 2020 WaterSense Excellence Award for Promoting Labeled Products is SUEZ New York’s first WaterSense award, recognizing the water service company’s numerous community engagement activities and rebate programs in Rockland and Orange counties. SUEZ New York’s commitment to connecting with consumers is demonstrated by its creative advertising approaches throughout 2019, including the debut of the conservation character “Bailey the Beaver” who encourages SUEZ New York customers of all ages to save water at community events. In addition to incorporating Bailey in a series of promotional and educational efforts about SUEZ New York’s cash rebates for water-efficient products, SUEZ New York sponsors the New York Boulders minor league baseball team and airs a commercial about WaterSense labeled fixtures during every local game.
SUEZ New York’s water conservation character Bailey the Beaver at a minor league baseball game.
To increase awareness about its customer conservation program, SUEZ New York designed a booklet for commercial customers in 2019 that highlighted the benefits of WaterSense labeled fixtures and offered rebates on labeled flushometer valve toilets as well as high-efficiency pre-rinse spray valves for kitchens. Residential and multifamily customers could also get rebates from SUEZ New York on WaterSense labeled toilets, showerheads, and smart irrigation controllers that were promoted to consumers through various advertising mediums in 2019.
WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of the nation’s water supply by offering Americans a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, homes, and services. WaterSense labeled products, which are independently certified to use at least 20% less water and perform as well or better than standard models, have been on the market since 2007. Today there are more than 35,000 labeled models, including products used in residential and commercial bathrooms, commercial kitchens, and outdoor irrigation. EPA’s WaterSense program certifies homes with WaterSense labeled fixtures and features. To date, close to 2,500 homes have earned the label.
To learn more about the 2020 WaterSense Award winners, please visit https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/watersense/watersense-awards
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