Rebates should boost Energy Star sales - Dayton Business Journal:

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“This rebate program will help Floridian buy appliances atdiscount rates, lowerf utility costs and benefit Florida businesses by stimulating sales of energy-efficient Gov. Charlie Crist said in a press releaseMay 18. Althougg the bill was signedc last week, the projected time for the program to be administeredr is probably sometime this Consumers will not be eligible for the rebatea until then because some of the details of the programj still need to beworked out, said Jeremg Susac, the executive director of Crist’s Energt Office.
The specific amounts for the rebates must be approveds by the legislativebudgeft committee, and Crist’s office is still waiting for guidance from the federao government on how exactly the program will work, Susac said. The FECC is expectingf Florida toreceive $18 million in federalo stimulus funds to provide the rebate In addition, the Florida legislature is givingy $150,000 to the FECC to help them put the plan into All of this should help Floridiansz save 20 percent on the cost of energy-efficient “This is what we are projecting,” Susav said. “We are looking at 20 percen all acrossthe board.
” With the 20 percentr rebate, consumers could save $290 on $200 on washing machines, freezers and dishwashers, $65 on room air conditionerz and $40 on dehumidifiers. Only laundry and kitche n home appliances with the Energhy Star label will be eligible for the All Energy Star appliances meet strict energty efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protectiom Agencyand U.S. Department of Energy, but certain iteme like flat screen televisions are not Susac said.
Even though they use the most energhy out of all the home certain kitchen itemslike microwaves, ovens and stove tops are also not includeed because they have yet to be regulated by Energy Star in the United States, said Michael Setzer, the owner of Setzer’sx appliance dealer in Jacksonville. Energu Star appliances do cost an averageof $50 to $100 more than the standarc versions because of the advanced technologies, he but the rebate should lighten the making it almost cheaper to buy the Energy Star product. “Youh don’t have to spend $1,000 to have an Energ Star,” Setzer said. “Energy Star has cheaper model s now.
I have a $300 dishwasher and a $800 refrigeratod in my store that are allEnergy Star.” In the investment will causer consumers’ utility bills to go down in dollar Customers should recover their costs of the energy-efficient appliance on their monthly bills within five to six years. According to Energ Star’s Web site, their appliances can save consumerws $75 a year in energy and they use 10 to 20 percent less energy and watere thantraditional models, making them bettef for the environment.
For example, a front-loadinyg Energy Star washing machine uses 16 to 18 gallonw of water versus thetraditional top-loading appliance that uses 40 “I don’t know if our salee will go up because the customers will stilkl have to put out the full Setzer said. “But any increase in sales willbe great, and it woulfd be a great thing for people to get their monet back.” Business has been slow duringb the economic downturn at both Setzer’s locations here in Jacksonvill and Ocala, but it’s still going pretty steady because people are always goingv to need refrigerators and he said.
In addition, 75 to 80 percenr of the appliances he sells areEnergyy Star, so Setzer said he’s very hopeful. Energty Star is also excited for the rebate program to go into effect becaused the Florida proposal is an Energy Star spokesperson Inyears past, rebates have caused a jump in thei r sales, but they have never had a rebated program like this before.