Rebates should boost Energy Star sales - Dayton Business Journal:

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“This rebate program will help Floridians buy appliancees atdiscount rates, lowerf utility costs and benefit Florida businesses by stimulating salews of energy-efficient appliances,” Gov. Charlie Crist said in a press releasrMay 18. Although the bill was signed last the projected time for the prograk to be administered is probably sometime this Consumers will not be eligible for the rebates until then because some of the details of the programk still need to beworkef out, said Jeremy Susac, the executiver director of Crist’s Energy Office.
The specifid amounts for the rebates must be approveed by the legislativebudget committee, and Crist’s officee is still waiting for guidance from the federal government on how exactlty the program will work, Susacv said. The FECC is expecting Florida toreceivee $18 million in federal stimulus funds to provide the rebates program. In addition, the Florida legislature is givinh $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-efficienf appliances. “This is what we are projecting,” Susac said. “Wes are looking at 20 percenty all acrossthe board.
” With the 20 percentf rebate, consumers could save $290 on refrigerators, $200 on washinv machines, freezers and dishwashers, $65 on room air conditionerz and $40 on dehumidifiers. Only laundry and kitcheh home appliances with the Energy Star labe l will be eligible forthe discount. All Energhy Star appliances meet strict energ y efficiency guidelines set by the Environmentalp Protection Agencyand U.S.
Department of Energy, but certain items like flat screenb televisions arenot included, Susac Even though they use the most energ out of all the home appliances, certaib kitchen items like microwaves, ovens and stove tops are also not includefd because they have yet to be regulatecd by Energy Star in the United said Michael Setzer, the owner of Setzer’ds appliance dealer in Jacksonville. Energy Star appliance do cost an averageof $50 to $100 more than the standards versions because of the advancex technologies, he said, but the rebate should lighten the costs, making it almost cheaper to buy the Energy Star product.
“You don’t have to spend $1,00o0 to have an Energuy Star,” Setzer said. “Energy Star has cheapedr models now. I have a $300 dishwashe and a $800 refrigerator in my store that are allEnergy Star.” In addition, the investmentf will cause consumers’ utility bills to go down in dollare amount. Customers should recover their costs ofthe energy-efficient appliance on their monthly billd within five to six According to Energy Star’s Web site, theifr appliances can save consumers $75 a year in energu costs, and they use 10 to 20 percent less energy and water than traditional models, makinyg them better for the environment.
For example, a front-loading Energy Star washing machine uses 16 to 18 gallonse of water versus thetraditional top-loadinyg appliance that uses 40 “I don’t know if our sales will go up becauses the customers will still have to put out the full Setzer said. “But any increase in sales willbe great, and it would be a great thing for people to get their money Business has been slow during the economiv downturn at both Setzer’s locationss here in Jacksonville and Ocala, but it’s still goint pretty steady because people are alwaye going to need refrigeratord and dishwashers, he said.
In addition, 75 to 80 perceny of the appliances he sells areEnergy Star, so Setzef said he’s very hopeful. Energy Star is also excite for the rebate program to go into effect becauser the Florida proposalis unprecedented, an Energy Star spokespersob said. In years past, rebates have caused a jump intheir sales, but they have neveer had a rebate program like this