TastyLandscape Growing fruit trees at home in Southern California
Water Saving Rebates
The State of California has been in a huge drought. Therefore, the state is offering some awesome water saving rebates to help the situation. However, as expected, those rebates are going fast.
Perhaps time to remove the green grass on the California flag
Specific qualifying products:
The following is a list of specific rebates being offered by the state. More information is available from the California smart water website.
- Weather Based Irrigation Controllers (WBICs): This is the device that automatically controls when your sprinkler system turns on. “Rebates start at $80/controller for less than 1 acre of landscape” If you live on a bigger property you get “$35/station for more than 1 acre. *” Here is a list of qualifying models.
One of the models eligible for the “Weather Based Irrigation Controller Rebate”
- Rain barrels:”Rebates start at $75 per barrel, up to a maximum quantity of 4 on a single application” The barrels should be a minimum size of 50 gallons. Considering the cost of these barrels, that is a huge savings! More specific rebate info here.
Rain Barrel Rebate
- Soil Moisture Sensor: These sensors keep tabs on how wet or dry your soil is. This info helps you to best regulate when to turn on/off your irrigation system. “Rebates start at $80/controller for less than 1 acre of landscape; $35/station for more than 1 acre.” *Note, you cant get this rebate if you already got the rebate for the WBIC (above). If I was deciding between the two options, I would get one of the Weather Based Irrigation Controllers (WBICs) over this product. Here is a list of qualifying models.
One of the qualifying models, the “Toro 53812 Xtra Smart Soil Moisture Sensor”
- High Efficiency Toilets: Need a new porcelain throne? “Rebates start at $100 per EPA WaterSense labeled model.” Click here for a 76 page list of qualifying models.
- High efficiency clothes washers: Get paid to buy a new washer. “Rebates start at $85 for qualified clothes washers.” Click here for an 8 page list of qualifying models.
Remove your lawn for big cash:
- California residents were being offered up to $6,000 to remove their grass lawns.
- Unfortunately, turf removal incentives are no longer being offered region-wide in Metropolitan’s service area because funding has been exhausted.
- However, local turf removal rebates might still be available in some areas.
- Here is the latest about the “Turf Removal Update“
- If you missed the initial offer, a wait list has been created for when more funds are available in the fall.
Hi Dr. Osborne,
Is’s a shame people have to wait until we start to run out of something and need to be offered cash before they think about saving the environment . I’ve been using rain barrels for years, rain water is so much better for all your plants. Don’t get me stared on grass, it uses much more water then any food you can grow. Grass is ok if you have cows, goats or horse. Although I haven’t seen anyone feeding their horse on their front lawn, have you?
Steve Lohn
Hey Steve.
lol…
I couldnt agree with you more.
But hey, however we can get there right.
Cool website of yours.
I am sure we could share a lot of ideas.
Best,
Tom
What happened to the converting to drip irrigation article. I read it through but wanted to refer back to it. Thanks!
Hi Steve, thanks for your note. I haven’t had time to keep up with the latest in irrigation info so I took the article down to be on the safe side.