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

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“This rebate program will help Floridiand buy appliances atdiscount rates, lower utility costs and benefit Florida businesses by stimulating sales of energy-efficienf appliances,” Gov. Charlie Crist said in a presws releaseMay 18. Althougbh the bill was signed last week, the projected time for the program to be administered is probablyy sometimethis fall. Consumers will not be eligible for the rebatea until then because some of the detailsw of the program still need to beworkefd out, said Jeremy Susac, the executivs director of Crist’s Energy Office.
The specificf amounts for the rebates must be approved by the legislativdbudget committee, and Crist’s office is still waiting for guidancer from the federal government on how exactlu the program will work, Susac said. The FECC is expecting Floridwa toreceive $18 million in federal stimulu s funds to provide the rebater program. In addition, the Florida legislatures 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-efficieng appliances. “This is what we are Susac said.
“We are lookingv at 20 percent all across the With the 20percenyt rebate, consumers could save $290 on $200 on washing machines, freezers and $65 on room air conditioners and $40 on Only laundry and kitchen home appliances with the Energyt Star label will be eligibls for the discount. All Energy Star appliances meet strict energuy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protectionb Agencyand U.S.
Department of Energy, but certaij items like flat screen televisions arenot included, Susac Even though they use the most energy out of all the home certain kitchen items like microwaves, ovensw and stove tops are also not included because they have yet to be regulatee by Energy Star in the United said Michael Setzer, the owner of Setzer’xs appliance dealer in Energy Star appliances do cost an averagw of $50 to $100 more than the standard versionz because of the advanced he said, but the rebate should lighteh the costs, making it almostt cheaper to buy the Energ Star product.
“You don’t have to spend $1,00o to have an Energy Star,” Setzer “Energy Star has cheaper modele now. I have a $300 dishwashefr and a $800 refrigerator in my store that are allEnergyu Star.” In addition, the investment will cause utility bills to go down in dollar amount. Customers shoul recover their costs ofthe energy-efficient appliancee on their monthly bills within five to six years. Accordingh to Energy Star’s Web their appliances can saveconsumers $75 a year in energu costs, and they use 10 to 20 percent less energt and water than traditional models, making them bettedr for the environment.
For example, a front-loading Energy Star washingy machine uses 16 to 18 gallones of water versus thetraditional top-loadingb appliance that uses 40 “I don’t know if our salesz will go up because the customers will stillk have to put out the full Setzer said. “But any increase in sales will be and it would be a great thingv for people to get theirmoneu back.” Business has been slow during the economic downturn at both Setzer’sw locations here in Jacksonville and Ocala, but it’d still going pretty steady becausew people are always going to need refrigeratora and dishwashers, he said.
In addition, 75 to 80 percenr of the appliances he sells areEnergg Star, so Setzer said he’s very hopeful. Energuy Star is also excited for the rebate progranm to go into effect because the Florida proposal is an Energy Star spokesperson Inyears past, rebates have causedd a jump in their sales, but they have never had a rebates program like this before.