The City of Lauderhill and the State of Florida are both launching financial assistance programs to purchase appliances that consume less energy. Lauderhill's program, funded by a Federal Energy Block Grant to the city, provides interest free loans to city residents to purchase Energy Star washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, solar water heaters, tankless water heaters, and air conditioners with a 16 SEER rating or higher. The loans can only be used in the residents primary home.
Loans will be secured to the appliances purchased, and linked to the borrowers checking or savings account to provide for automatic monthly payments to the city. Payments will be for 12 or 24 months, with the minimum loan of $400 and the maximum loan of $2000. All appliances, except water heaters, are encouraged to be purchased at SEARS in Lauderhill on Commercial Blvd., which has worked with the city to coordinate the loan process.
Application for the loans will begin being taken on April 5, until all funds are expended, first come first serve for qualified borrowers. Thereafter, when funds are repaid, additional loans can be made. Applications are available on the city web site, http://www.lauderhill-fl.gov/doc/pdf/rl_app.pdf, and eventually will be on the Lauderhill's Green Web Site: www.lauderhill-fl.gov/green. They will also be available at City Hall on April 5. Completed applications cannot be submitted until Monday April 5 beginning at 7:30 AM.
Total loan funds for this program are $70,000, and upon monthly payments being received by the city, new funds will become available to loan each month thereafter. There is a $25 upfront application fee payable to the City of Lauderhill by money order or bank check (no personal checks or cash), and a credit check will be required.
Florida’s ENERGY STAR appliance rebate program applies only to new appliances purchased in the State of Florida for personal use by the consumer. Florida will offer a 20 percent rebate off the retail price of a new qualified ENERGY STAR appliance. Rebates only apply to the purchase of the appliance and not to delivery or installation costs. Rebates shall be available only for the following ENERGY STAR certified appliances and products: gas tank-less water heaters, clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air-conditioners and freezers.
This program is available to all Florida residents through a mail-in rebate application and will launch April 16, 2010, and conclude April 25, 2010. To qualify for the grant, reservations must be made after the appliance is purchase, not before. After making the reservation a rebate application must be submitted. Florida does not guarantee a refund if the purchaser discovers the rebates are gone after they have bought the appliances.
This program is timed to coincide with Florida’s Earth Day Activities. Florida will hire a third-party program administrator to handle the rebate process and to capture the needed metrics associated with the program. All advertising and marketing for the rebate program will be undertaken by our program partners.
While customers are encouraged to replace more than one appliance, they may only receive rebates on the purchase of one of each type of ENERGY STAR appliance per address. In additional to the rebate for purchasing the ENERGY STAR appliance, consumers will also receive an additional $75 if they provide evidence of having recycled the old appliance. That evidence may consist of a statement on the retailer receipt indicating pick-up of the old appliance or a receipt from the local public or private landfill of delivery of the old appliance. NOTE: State funds are limited and are on a first come, first serve basis until all funds are used.
NOTE: Some (such as air conditioners), but not all appliances purchased may qualify for a Federal Energy Tax Credit from income taxes. Consult with your tax advisor or IRS for more information. For additional information on Florida's program:
http://www.myfloridaclimate.com/climate_quick_links/florida_energy_climate_commission/arra_funding_and_opportunities/energy_efficient_appliance_rebate_17_585_466
Loans will be secured to the appliances purchased, and linked to the borrowers checking or savings account to provide for automatic monthly payments to the city. Payments will be for 12 or 24 months, with the minimum loan of $400 and the maximum loan of $2000. All appliances, except water heaters, are encouraged to be purchased at SEARS in Lauderhill on Commercial Blvd., which has worked with the city to coordinate the loan process.
Application for the loans will begin being taken on April 5, until all funds are expended, first come first serve for qualified borrowers. Thereafter, when funds are repaid, additional loans can be made. Applications are available on the city web site, http://www.lauderhill-fl.gov/doc/pdf/rl_app.pdf, and eventually will be on the Lauderhill's Green Web Site: www.lauderhill-fl.gov/green. They will also be available at City Hall on April 5. Completed applications cannot be submitted until Monday April 5 beginning at 7:30 AM.
Total loan funds for this program are $70,000, and upon monthly payments being received by the city, new funds will become available to loan each month thereafter. There is a $25 upfront application fee payable to the City of Lauderhill by money order or bank check (no personal checks or cash), and a credit check will be required.
Florida’s ENERGY STAR appliance rebate program applies only to new appliances purchased in the State of Florida for personal use by the consumer. Florida will offer a 20 percent rebate off the retail price of a new qualified ENERGY STAR appliance. Rebates only apply to the purchase of the appliance and not to delivery or installation costs. Rebates shall be available only for the following ENERGY STAR certified appliances and products: gas tank-less water heaters, clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air-conditioners and freezers.
This program is available to all Florida residents through a mail-in rebate application and will launch April 16, 2010, and conclude April 25, 2010. To qualify for the grant, reservations must be made after the appliance is purchase, not before. After making the reservation a rebate application must be submitted. Florida does not guarantee a refund if the purchaser discovers the rebates are gone after they have bought the appliances.
This program is timed to coincide with Florida’s Earth Day Activities. Florida will hire a third-party program administrator to handle the rebate process and to capture the needed metrics associated with the program. All advertising and marketing for the rebate program will be undertaken by our program partners.
While customers are encouraged to replace more than one appliance, they may only receive rebates on the purchase of one of each type of ENERGY STAR appliance per address. In additional to the rebate for purchasing the ENERGY STAR appliance, consumers will also receive an additional $75 if they provide evidence of having recycled the old appliance. That evidence may consist of a statement on the retailer receipt indicating pick-up of the old appliance or a receipt from the local public or private landfill of delivery of the old appliance. NOTE: State funds are limited and are on a first come, first serve basis until all funds are used.
NOTE: Some (such as air conditioners), but not all appliances purchased may qualify for a Federal Energy Tax Credit from income taxes. Consult with your tax advisor or IRS for more information. For additional information on Florida's program:
http://www.myfloridaclimate.com/climate_quick_links/florida_energy_climate_commission/arra_funding_and_opportunities/energy_efficient_appliance_rebate_17_585_466
2 comments:
I just left the Sears Appliance Store in Lauderhill. The saleswoman, Michelle, told me that only 4 checks had been received thru the City's Appliance Loan program.
How can that be? Only 4 applications have been approved of the 24 submitted?
What is going to happen to the $70K earmarked for this program?
Something has to be done to remedy such a poor showing.
Not all of the loans were for appliances. A lot of them were for air conditioners which did not go through Sears. I expect those checks, and the installations to be starting this week.
Unfortunately, several applications had to be denied since they did not satisfy the loan guidelines. Mostly FICO scores that were too low, and applicants in collection, including water shut offs to the city. It is a loan and not a grant program.
Lauderhill's program was not intended to be used just to work in conjuction with the state program, but to work on many levels, and exist for several years. In fact, this past week the city received several more applications after the cut off for the City to process for the State Program. Those loans will probably be reviewed next week. If they are for appliances, than Sears may see a few more purchases.
I expect to see a lot more applicants when more Lauderhill residents become aware that the program has started. There is an upcoming newspaper article coming up that may help in this regard.
Post a Comment