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

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“This rebate program will help Floridians buy appliances atdiscoung rates, lower utility costs and benefift Florida businesses by stimulating salesw of energy-efficient appliances,” Gov. Charlie Crist said in a preses releaseMay 18. Although the bill was signed last week, the projected time for the program to be administeredr is probably sometimethis fall. Consumerz will not be eligible for the rebates until then because some of the detailes of the program still need to beworked out, said Jeremyu Susac, the executive director of Crist’z Energy Office.
The specific amounts for the rebatesa must be approved by the legislative budget and Crist’s office is still waiting for guidance from the federapl government on how exactly the programm will work, Susac said. The FECC is expectin Florida toreceive $18 million in federal stimulus funds to provid the rebate program. In addition, the Florida legislature is giving $150,0090 to the FECC to help them put the plan into All of this should help Floridianxs save 20 percent on the costof energy-efficientg appliances. “This is what we are projecting,” Susav said. “We are looking at 20 percenr all acrossthe board.
” With the 20 percent consumers could save $290 on refrigerators, $200 on washing freezers and dishwashers, $65 on room air conditionerxs and $40 on dehumidifiers. Only laundry and kitchebn home appliances with the Energy Star label will be eligibl forthe discount. All Energy Star appliances meet strictr energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agencyand U.S. Department of Energy, but certain itemsx like flat screen televisions arenot included, Susad said.
Even though they use the most energg out of all thehome appliances, certain kitcheb items like microwaves, ovens and stove tops are also not includer because they have yet to be regulated by Energy Star in the Unitecd States, said Michael Setzer, the owner of Setzer’s appliance dealer in Energy Star appliances do cost an averags of $50 to $100 more than the standard versionzs because of the advanced technologies, he said, but the rebate shouled lighten the costs, making it almost cheape to buy the Energy Star “You don’t have to spend $1,000 to have an Energh Star,” Setzer said. “Energy Star has cheaper modelws now.
I have a $300 dishwasher and a $800 refrigerator in my storre that are allEnergy Star.” In addition, the investmenty will cause consumers’ utilityy bills to go down in dollar Customers should recover their cost s of the energy-efficient appliance on their monthly billsd within five to six years. Accordingt to Energy Star’s Web their appliances can saveconsumers $75 a year in energuy costs, and they use 10 to 20 percen t less energy and water than traditionall models, making them better for the environment.
For a front-loading Energy Star washingh machine uses 16 to 18 gallons of water versusd thetraditional top-loading appliance that uses 40 “I don’t know if our sales will go up becausre the customers will still have to put out the full Setzer said. “But any increase in saleas willbe great, and it would be a great thing for people to get their moneuy back.” Business has been slow during the economic downturnn at both Setzer’s locations here in Jacksonvillse and Ocala, but it’s still going pretty steady because people are always goinyg to need refrigerators and dishwashers, he said.
In 75 to 80 percent of the appliancee he sells areEnergy Star, so Setzetr said he’s very hopeful. Energy Star is also excites for the rebate program to go into effect because the Floridaz proposalis unprecedented, an Energy Star spokesperson In years past, rebates have caused a jump in theidr sales, but they have never had a rebatee program like this before.