Save water and money with the city’s outdoor water conservation program! The city is offering several incentives to help you reduce water use and transform your yard into a beautiful and vibrant Colorado native landscape. Lakewood residents are eligible regardless of your water utility provider.
Outdoor Water Efficiency Incentives
Our local partner Resource Central is managing the incentive program. For 2023, we are offering discounted Garden In a Box kits, free sprinkler evaluations with the option to add on a smart controller or rain sensor at no cost, and $500 discounts for lawn replacement.
Quantities are limited in 2023, so we encourage community members to sign up early. Additional quantities will be available beginning in Spring 2024. Please sign up for Resource Central’s interest list to be the first to find out when these become available in 2024 (additional details below).
Garden In a Box Discount
This program is available to Lakewood residential properties. When signing up Select "City of Lakewood" as your water utility.
Incentive: $25 discount on Garden In a Box kits, with an additional discount for income-qualified households.
How to sign up: Visit the Garden In a Box website. Select "City of Lakewood" as your water utility.
(Fall sales begin June 21.)
Professionally designed for Colorado yards, these Fall-specific pre-assembled kits are super easy to install and can help you save around 7,300 gallons of water over the garden’s lifetime compared to a traditional grass lawn (not to mention helping you save on your water bill!). If the Fall gardens are sold out, please sign up for the Spring Garden Interest List on the Garden In a Box website.
Income-Qualified $100 discount: If you are an income-qualified household (80% Area Median Income or less), you may receive a $100 discount on Garden In a Box kits.
- Check your income eligibility here (see Jefferson County).
- If you qualify, please fill out and submit the Income-Qualified Garden In a Box Self Certification Form. After the form is submitted, you will be contacted by city staff with additional instructions.
Free Slow the Flow Sprinkler Evaluations
This program is available to Lakewood residential households, HOAs, and non-residential properties. When signing up Select "City of Lakewood" as your water utility.
Incentive: Free sprinkler system evaluation with option for a no-cost smart controller or rain sensor.
How to sign up: Visit the Slow the Flow website or call 303-999-3824. Select "City of Lakewood" as your water utility.
Just like a car, your sprinklers need an occasional check-up to make sure they’re watering your lawn as efficiently as possible. Get your system checked with a FREE Slow the Flow sprinkler evaluation by Resource Central. Sprinkler evaluations last about 75 minutes and could help you save thousands of gallons of water each year and keep your lawn healthy. After your evaluation, you may qualify to receive a free smart controller or rain sensor for even more water savings.
Lawn Replacement $500 Discount
This program is available to Lakewood residential properties. When signing up Select "City of Lakewood" as your water utility.
Incentive: $500 credit towards lawn removal services or Garden In a Box kits with turf removal commitment.
How to Sign Up: Visit the Lawn Replacement Program website or call 303-999-3820 ext. 221 to enroll. Select "City of Lakewood" as your water utility.
The City of Lakewood and Resource Central want to help you transform your thirsty lawn into a beautiful, low-water landscape! Lakewood residents receive $500 off the Lawn Replacement Program when you commit to removing at least a 200-square-foot section of lawn and replacing it with beautiful low-water native landscape. If you qualify, you can put the $500 credit towards a Lawn Removal Service discount, free low-water Garden In a Box kits, or both. Simply plan your project, choose your discounts, then apply. After that, you’ll have a phone consultation with a Resource Central xeriscape advisor, then you’re ready to remove some lawn!
If the discounts are sold out, sign up for the Lawn Replacement Program Interest List on the website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I qualify if my water utility is not the City of Lakewood?
Yes, if you are a Lakewood resident, you qualify for the Garden in a Box, Slow the Flow and Lawn Replacement incentives. Select “City of Lakewood” as your water utility provider.
I previously replaced my lawn with xeriscaping. Can I receive a rebate for that work?
No, the incentives are only available for work that has not yet been completed.
Can I stack discounts from my water utility?
No, if your water utility is providing the same program discount or incentive as what the city is offering, you will only receive one discount.
My water provider is giving the same discount for the program I’m interested in. Who should I select as my water utility when signing up?
Select your water utility if they are providing the same service and discount. If the discount is no longer available or is not offered by your water utility, then select “City of Lakewood” as your water utility provider to receive the discount.
Outdoor Water Education Resources
As part of the Residential Outdoor Water Conservation Program, the Sustainability division will be creating educational resources focused on outdoor water conservation strategies for single-family households, as well as a toolkit to help HOAs save water and money on water bills. The materials will be posted here when they are available.
Our Water Goals
The City of Lakewood has adopted the following targets to enhance resource efficiency:
- Reduce citywide water use by 20 percent by 2025.
Outdoor water use for irrigation accounts for about half of all water use in the community. Improving water efficiency and practicing water conservation are key to ensuring we all have enough water to sustain our community. Learn more about Lakewood’s sustainability goals in the Lakewood Sustainability Plan.
Questions?
If you have questions about the Outdoor Water Conservation Program, contact sustainability@lakewood.org
Energy affects everyone. It powers more than 65,000 Lakewood homes and 16,000 Lakewood businesses. Improving energy efficiency and investing in renewable energy are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and keeping millions of dollars in the local economy.
Explore the resources below to better understand how Colorado’s energy system functions and how we can transition to a more efficient and renewable energy system.
Our Energy Goals
The city of Lakewood has adopted the following targets to advance affordable, renewable energy and enhance resource efficiency:
- Generate 45 percent of municipal energy from renewable sources by 2025.
- Generate 45 percent of residential energy from renewable sources by 2025.
- Generate 45 percent of commercial and industrial energy from renewable sources by 2025.
- Reduce municipal building and facility energy use intensity by 30 percent by 2025.
- Reduce citywide building energy use intensity by 20 percent by 2025.
- Reduce citywide water use by 20 percent by 2025.
- Increase the percentage of certified green buildings each year from 2015 to 2025.
Learn more about Lakewood’s sustainability goals in the Lakewood Sustainability Plan.
Sustainable buildings use energy and water resources more efficiently than typical construction practices. By integrating efficiency considerations early on in the building or remodeling process, developers can create high performing projects that retain value long after construction is complete.
Explore the resources below for help developing a cost-effective, sustainable project.
- Xcel Energy Design Assistance: Free energy consulting services and rebates for Xcel business customers considering new construction or major renovation projects.
- Xcel Energy Rebates: Rebates for new construction and whole building projects.
- Colorado C-PACE: Financing program for commercial properties that enables building owners to finance 100 percent of eligible energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation improvements with repayment facilitated through the county property tax assessment process.
- Public Energy Performance Contracting: A Colorado Energy Office program that facilitates energy improvements in public facilities (libraries, schools, government buildings) using cost savings from reduced energy consumption to repay the cost of installing the improvements.
Once you have identified your sustainable project, head over to the City of Lakewood zoning and permits webpages to learn about the development process.
Whether you own or rent, you can conserve resources by using less and choosing renewable sources. Simple home improvements and behavior changes can lower your monthly utility bill, improve indoor air quality, create more comfortable spaces and increase your home’s value. Our staff provided an overview of energy and water efficiency to the Sustainable Neighborhood program leaders, view the presentation slides(PDF, 2MB) to get ideas and see more resources below:
Renewable Energy
Energy Efficiency
Water Efficiency
If you are looking for ways to improve your business’s office space and bottom line, improving energy and water efficiency is one of the most effective solutions.
Energy and Water Efficiency
Renewable Energy
The Lakewood Sustainability Division has teamed up with Xcel Energy to provide energy resources for our community through the Partners In Energy program.
Income-Qualified Resource Guide
Are you looking for help with your energy and water bills? The Sustainability Division has created a summary of FREE energy and water programs for income-qualified households. Programs include direct utility bill assistance, emergency heat repair, home improvements and residential solar, all at no cost to qualifying residents.
To learn more, download our Income Qualified Energy and Water Guide:
For questions, contact us at sustainability@lakewood.org
Si necesita ayuda, envíanos un correo electrónico at sustainability@lakewood.org
Small Business Energy Assessments
The Lakewood Sustainability division has teamed with Xcel Energy through the Partners in Energy program to launch a business energy campaign, which aims to help our local businesses reduce energy costs and usage. We are encouraging Lakewood businesses to sign up for a free or low-cost business energy assessment from Xcel Energy through its vendor CLEAResult. Following a quick in-person visit from an energy technician, you will receive a report with audit results, recommended energy improvements, and cost saving opportunities for your business.
If you're ready to sign up now, download and email this application(PDF, 179KB) to Xcelenergyefficiency@clearesult.com.
Have questions? Call 877-287-2250 to speak with an energy advisor.
Si necesita ayuda en Español, llame al 1-800-481-4700. (If you need assistance in Spanish, call 1-800-481-4700.)
Save Money and Energy in Your Home
From quick, cheap fixes to larger home investments, you can find ways to lower your home energy bills, make your home more comfortable and reduce your environmental impact. Through the Partners in Energy program, we’ve created a slide show to show savings opportunities in each room of your house.
Whether it’s efficient appliances in your kitchen or air sealing and insulation in your attic, we hope you’re able to lower your utility bills while increasing comfort at home.