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<br />, <br /> <br />Grand Junction Regional Center <br /> <br />County: Mesa <br />Funding: $47,000 <br />Start: 8/1/93 <br />Status: On-going <br />The purpose of this pilot project is to demonsuate the benefits of water conservation measures. The project will include: installing <br />1200 automatic infrared faucets at the Grand J UIlCtion Regional Center that run for 10 seconds. These faucets will provide water and <br />monetary savings, and are more hygienic and handicapped accessible. Water usage after the installation will be monitored. A final <br />report will compare monthly water heat bills before and after installation of the faucets, results of smvey sent to area receiving the <br />faucets, benefits or drawbacks and other comments. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Grand Junction Regional Center conuacted with local plumbers and electricians to install 100 infrared, automatic faucets. Research <br />bas shown that each technician, working directly with clients, washes their hands an average of 30 times in their eight hour shift. <br />Traditional faucets use an average of one gallon of water in a IS-second hand wash, whereas the automatic faucets use about 1/8 (one <br />eighth) gallon, This offers a potential savings of $7,419.60 that could be saved each year with less use of water and less eneIgy need- <br />ed to heat water. The automatic faucets make a tough job easier and also save time for technicians who often have their hands full <br />working with clients who need assistance with all their daily personal care. The automatic faucets have made the bathroom sinks more <br />handicapped accessible for clients. <br /> <br />Highlands Elementary/Weld County <br /> <br />County: Weld <br />Funding: $4,500 <br />Start: 7/15/93 <br />Status: On-going <br />This project will increase community awareness of the effects of xeriscaping, extend the useful life of the water system and collect data <br />for evaluation of future projects. The project consists of turning an unused space at the elementary school into a 200-square-foot edu- <br />cational xeriscape garden. The plant material chosen will provide an environment capable of sustaining various birds and insect <br />species, which will allow for unlimited education opportunities. This xeriscape garden will give the school the means of making a <br />hands-on approach to learning that would be available to students, teachers and the community. Lesson plans will be developed to be <br />utilized by all teachers. The students will be involved in preparing signage to identify plant species in the garden. <br /> <br />During the spring and summer of 1994 the finishing toucbes were completed on the xeriscape garden. Buffalo grass bas been planted <br />along with buffalo junipers and bristlecone pines. Rainfall and irrigation has been closely monitored by the use of appropriately placed <br />rain gauges, Signage has been put in place with the help of the art teacher, and lesson plans have been developed to ensure use by all <br />students and teachers throughout the year. Six picnic tables (one of which is handicapped accessible) made from recycled plastic have <br />been installed to allow teachers to bring entire classes out to worlc on projects. <br /> <br />La Junta <br /> <br />County: Otero <br />Funding: $25,000 <br />Start: 7/15/93 <br />Status: On-going <br />The project goals include: increasing customer awareness of the effects of water conservation in landscaping; encouraging public and <br />private use of vegetation, drought-enduring plant life and dry landscapes; extending the useful life of the water system; promoting pub- <br />lic support for the use of xeriscaping in future municipal planning; and collecting data for evaluation of future projects. The project <br />consists of developing a xeriscape garden as part of a new park, which will promote the beauty of arid and semi-arid plant life. Three <br />separate meters, supplying the different areas of the park, will provide information for water use comparison with other parks. The <br />information will be compared by total usage and by use per square foot. <br /> <br />The Utility Department has been continuously offering xeriscape programs to the public. They have installed the meters at the park <br />site. A landscape architect has completed the site plan. Presently park staff is amending the soil to prepare the park for planting some <br />lreeS this fall and the rest of the plants in the spring. <br />