Sense of Water

I was traveling recently to a trade show for a large retail partner of Rachio’s and ran into several people asking about our company journey. I had one person come up and say “Congrats on the EPA WaterSense Certification. It’s a nice to have but it won’t do much for sales. Customers don’t get it.”

I was a little taken back by the remarks and I started wondering if maybe we made a mistake in pushing so hard for this program. It’s not a cheap process and as a startup we’re watching every penny and every hour.

I started thinking, why wouldn’t people want to save money and save a natural resource like water? Do the big players in the industry know something we don’t? Are we too close to the water story and missing something here? No, it doesn’t add up.

As a father of two, my wife and I are always talking about the give and take between spending and saving. We search out deals and listen to friends and family on what they are doing to stretch their budgets. I’m not sure about yours, but mine are more than happy to share a great deal or a new product that they really love. Especially if the product is meaningfully contributing to the bigger picture.

I also know how important our outdoor living space is to our family. It’s where we play, cook, listen to music and hang with friends. So, we don’t want to buy things that can potentially make this space less desirable. We want to keep it looking its best. Sometimes this can be the perception with sustainably focused products and programs - that we have to give up something that we love.

At the end of the day, we of course want to save money if we can justify the spend to help us do so and if we’re not losing out on the things we love. To this point, the EPA WaterSense certification helps you do just that by easing the upfront cost of acquiring new, smart products that will save water and money, without drastically changing things we have come accustomed to. The biggest challenge with these types of programs in making sure homeowners 1) know about them and 2) know how to leverage them with their water provider to get new and exciting products that help them optimize water use.

Head on over to the EPA WaterSense product page to find out about products bearing the WaterSense certification label. You’ll also want to check with your local municipality to see if it supports the WaterSense program. And of course, if there’s anyway we can help you learn more about EPA WaterSense certified products or rebates in your area, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at rebates@rach.io. We’re here to help you.

Finally, pay it forward. Our water issues here in the west are real and affect the entire country. If we can do things to minimize water waste, we’ll be in a much better place. If you were able to leverage the EPA WaterSense certification program to get products that save water and add to sustainable future at a price that didn’t hurt your wallet, make sure to tell your friends and family how they can do the same.

Here’s to a great spring.