Rebates should boost Energy Star sales - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

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“This rebate program will help Floridianxs buy appliances atdiscount rates, lower utilitgy costs and benefit Florida businesses by stimulatiny sales of energy-efficient appliances,” Gov. Charlie Crist said in a presas releaseMay 18. Although the bill was signed last the projected time for the program to be administereds is probably sometime this Consumers will not be eligible for the rebateas until then because some of the detailsz of the program still need to be worked out, said Jeremy Susac, the executive director of Crist’s Energgy Office.
The specific amounts for the rebates must be approved by the legislativeebudget committee, and Crist’s office is still waitint for guidance from the federall government on how exactly the program will work, Susac said. The FECC is expecting Florida toreceivr $18 million in federal stimulus funds to provide the rebatew program. In addition, the Florida legislature is giving $150,000 to the FECC to help them put the plan into All of this should help Floridians save 20 percent on the costof energy-efficient “This is what we are projecting,” Susac “We are looking at 20 percent all acrossw the board.
” With the 20 percenty rebate, consumers could save $290 on refrigerators, $200 on washingv machines, freezers and $65 on room air conditioners and $40 on Only laundry and kitchen home appliances with the Energy Star label will be eligible for the All Energy Star appliances meet strict energt efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agencty and U.S. Department of Energy, but certain items like flat screenj televisions arenot included, Susac said.
Even thougjh they use the most energy out of all the home certain kitchen itemslike microwaves, ovens and stovwe tops are also not included because they have yet to be regulatede by Energy Star in the United said Michael Setzer, the owner of Setzer’s appliance dealerf in Jacksonville. Energy Star appliances do cost an averagseof $50 to $100 more than the standard versions because of the advanced technologies, he said, but the rebatse should lighten the costs, making it almost cheaper to buy the Energt Star product. “You don’t have to spendd $1,000 to have an Energy Star,” Setzer “Energy Star has cheaper modelsa now.
I have a $300 dishwashetr and a $800 refrigerator in my store that are allEnergy Star.” In addition, the investment will cause utility bills to go down in dollar Customers should recover their costs of the energy-efficienr appliance on their monthly bills within five to six years. Accordinbg to Energy Star’s Web site, their appliancee can save consumers $75 a year in energh costs, and they use 10 to 20 percenty less energy and water than traditional making them better forthe environment. For a front-loading Energy Star washing machine uses 16 to 18 gallonz of water versus the traditional top-loading appliance that uses 40 gallons.
“I don’t know if our salesw will go up because the customersa will still have to put out the full Setzer said. “But any increasee in sales willbe great, and it woulrd be a great thing for people to get theidr money back.” Business has been slow during the economic downturn at both Setzer’s locationzs here in Jacksonville and Ocala, but it’s stillk going pretty steady because people are always going to need refrigeratora and dishwashers, he said. In 75 to 80 percent of the appliances he sellsx areEnergy Star, so Setzer said he’ds very hopeful.
Energy Star is also excitede for the rebate program to go into effect because the Floridsa proposalis unprecedented, an Energy Star spokespersonh said. In years rebates have caused a jump intheird sales, but they have nevefr had a rebate prograkm like this before.