State plans new clunker appliance program for central AC units
June 30, 2010 | By Diane C. Lade, Sun Sentinel
Florida’s wildly popular Cash for Clunker Appliances program soon will be reborn with a new twist: Rebates for clunker air conditioning systems. State officials have approved a program that will give Floridians a flat fee rebate — the amount yet to be determined — for new Energy Star-rated central air conditioning and air source heat pumps systems purchased before the end of the year, said Brenda Buchan, the chief analyst with the Governor’s Energy Office who managed the Energy Star appliance rebate program.
Window or room air conditioning units will not be included, as these products were covered under the cash for appliance program. Buchan said Florida also is considering including Energy Star hot water heaters in the new program but a decision has not yet been reached. Only residential home installations will be covered. An added bonus: The state rebate, which will be funded with federal energy stimulus money allocated to Florida, can be combined with the federal energy tax credit available to those who purchase central air conditioning systems.
