Replacing Appliances? You may want to wait just a bit longer - Updated

The time for this program is drawing near. If you are needing to, or thinking about replacing appliances this is a great program to save a little money and help out the planet at the same time.

If you are contemplating the purchase of new appliances, you may want to try to hold off for just a couple of months. Of course, we never plan on having our appliances break down at a convenient time, but this could be beneficial if you were thinking of updating your appliances in the near future. I read this information in this months issue of our power companies magazine and took a look at the website.

Beginning April 16^th and ending April 25^th, Florida residents will be eligible for rebates of 20% off the purchase price when buying qualified "Energy Star" appliances to replace older inefficient appliances. This will be a mail in rebate and is available on a "first come, first served" basis. Consumers can also receive an additional $75 rebate with proof of having recycled an old appliance. There is a $1500 cap in rebates per residential address.

Consumers may receive a rebate on one of each type of appliance (one refrigerator, one freezer, one clothes washer, one dishwasher, one room air conditioner, and one gas tankless water heater).

From a report by my local power company, it is indicated that more than 70% of the energy used in our homes is for appliances, refrigeration, space heating, cooling and water heating. An example is given that replacing a clothes washer manufactured before the year 2000 with an "Energy Star" model could save up to $135 per year.

These rebates are being funded with $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of this total, $17,585,000 has been allocated specifically for Florida.

This State refund can also be combined with the federal tax credit for the same product, as long as the purchase qualifies under the rules of both programs and is not specifically excluded.

Full details of this program can be found at the Florida Energy and Climate Commission website located at http://myfloridaclimate.com Click on "Florida Energy and Climate Commission" and then click on "Upcoming Funding Opportunities.