Consumers Can Save Dollars and Energy During Georgia's Energy Star Tax Holiday

For Immediate Release July 21 , 2006 While many consumers are planning to reap the benefits of Georgia's Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, they can reap both short- and long-term savings from the Energy Star® Sales Tax Holiday that will also fall on August 3-6.

Purchases will be exempt from both state and local sales tax on Energy Star qualified products that cost $1,500 or less, including dishwashers, clothes washers, air conditioners, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats, refrigerators, doors and windows. Even purchases online that are delivered to a Georgia address qualify for the Tax Holiday.

"The Energy Star label means the product has met strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," explains Amy Bryan, Jackson EMC director of residential marketing. "When you purchase a product with an Energy Star label, you can be assured it's one of the most efficient on the market. It will save you money on your energy bill year after year. And, during this Sales Tax Holiday, you'll enjoy additional savings."

Do Energy Star qualified products really save you money? Well, consider th

• Refrigerator — uses less energy than a 75-Watt light bulb; can save up to $60 a year, compared to a model produced before 1993.
• Dishwasher — uses 25% less energy; can lower your electric bill as much as $25 a year, compared to a non-qualified model.
• Clothes washer — can save up to $55 a year on your electric bill and enough water to do 300 loads of laundry, compared to a model produced before 1993.
• Compact fluorescent light bulb — a 32-Watt fluorescent uses 68% less energy than a standard 100-Watt incandescent bulb, lasts 10 times longer and can, over the life of the bulb, save $30 in electricity costs.

Information on qualified Energy Star products can be found in the Products section of the Energy Star website.

"Consumers who purchase energy-efficient products can save up to 30% on their utility bills," says Bryan. "By looking for the Energy Star label, you can select energy efficient products without worrying about comparison shopping. And the tax break just makes Energy Start qualified products an even smarter choice."

"From energy-efficient homes to home energy audits, Jackson EMC has been an advocate of energy efficient living for over 30 years, no matter what was happening with the price of gas, natural gas or the wholesale price of electricity," notes Bryan. "It just makes good sense to be wise consumers of our resources."

Jackson EMC serves more than 195,000 meters in 10 Northeast Georgia counties.

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