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<br />The program is cost effective. Based on local Colorado utility rates and family habits
<br />collected from actual custome: survey information, t;.e average household •��ater and wastewater
<br />savin�s is 7,966 �allons per household p�� year. In addition, the program yields savings of 272
<br />kWh and 26 therms of gas per year on average — plus $49.58 of savings on household utility
<br />bills. At the overall target level of 18,000 households, the program will yield savings of
<br />143,388,000 �allons (440 acre feet) of water each year. Using a conservative five year projection
<br />for the life of the installed conservation measures, the program will save an estimated
<br />716,940,000 gallons (2,200 acre feet), for a cost per acre-foot of saved water of �254. Other
<br />benefits accrue through saved electricity and natural gas as well as avoided costs for wastewater
<br />treatment. Total disposable family income over � years is estimated to increase by $4,462,200,
<br />for a benefit/cost ratio of nearly 8:1.
<br />The amount of money requested is reasonable. The average cost of the pro�am is
<br />about $32 per student. Each student receives a Resource Action Kit with water efficient fixtures
<br />for their homes, a LivingWise interactive CD-ROM, student activity workbook, Dear Parent
<br />letters, certificate of achievement, pre and post surveys, household report card, home checkup,
<br />and access to an interactive program web site. Each teacher gets a program video, classroom
<br />posters, lesson plans and curriculum conelation, comprehensive teacher binder, step by step
<br />implementation checklist, s�spplementary activities, Spanish support materials, graduate credit
<br />: egistration form, and a pro� am progress chart. The requested funds also include program
<br />management costs associated with teacher/school identification, introduction to teachers,
<br />shipment of kits and other materials, teacher evaluations, and compilation of a summary report.
<br />`` 'i The Construction Fund is an appropriate source of funds. In 1991, the Board was
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<br />"� authorized to expend $500,000 from the CWCB Construction Fund for a pilot program
<br />demonstrating the benefits of water efficiency measures by providing incentive grants [Section
<br />37-60-125, CRS]. In 1993, the board was authorized to expend another $500,000 from the
<br />Construction Fund as demonstration grants to promote the efficient management and operation
<br />of agricultural and multipurpose water systems [Section 37-60-120 (3), CRS]. The guidelines
<br />for possible grant categories adopted by the Board in 1991 included "school education" such as
<br />classroom or field activities or introduction or development of curriculum. Another category was
<br />"public information/education" such as community activities and events, workshops and
<br />exhibits, or promotional efforts with local media. San Miguel County was awarded funds for an
<br />educational effort to produce a citizen's water guide for the basin. The Bayfield School District
<br />was awarded funds to build an outdoor water conservation classroom. Loveland was awarded
<br />funds to conduct water audits of 500 homes.
<br />CWCB staff time to manage the project will be minimal. The Learning to be WaterWise
<br />program is a comprehensive educational package now in its seventh year of development. It has
<br />shown to have wide student, parent, and teacher acceptance. Management and administration of
<br />the program will be by staff of the National Energy Foundation. CWCB staff might be available
<br />for occasional classroom presentations regarding water supply and conservation.
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