Georgia to Hold Third Annual ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday October 4-7

Change a Light Campaign Starts October 3

ATLANTA – In an effort to help Georgians conserve energy, save money and protect the environment, Georgia’s third annual ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, October 4 and runs through midnight Sunday, October 7, 2007.

“I want to encourage the people of Georgia to use this opportunity to buy appliances and products that have earned the ENERGY STAR,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “Not only do ENERGY STAR appliances and products help families save on their utility bills, they reduce energy consumption and enable us to be good stewards of the environment.”

ENERGY STAR designates products that meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.  During the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday consumers can save both state and local sales taxes on ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and products that cost $1,500 or less.  Qualified ENERGY STAR appliances and products include dishwashers, clothes washers, air conditioners, ceiling fans, fluorescent light bulbs, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats, refrigerators, doors and windows.

“Through the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday, Georgians can save money, conserve energy, and show their commitment to energy independence and environmental stewardship,” said Chris Clark, executive director of the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA).

Many ENERGY STAR qualified appliances use 30 percent less energy than conventional models without sacrificing features, style or comfort.  Some products, such as energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, save as much as 80 percent.  By replacing old, inefficient appliances with ENERGY

STAR qualified models, Georgians can help protect the environment while saving money and energy.  For more information and to better understand the options and benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified products visit the interactive ENERGY STAR @ Home tool at www.energystar.gov.

In addition to the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday, consumers can save money with federal tax credits on doors, windows and other energy efficient products.  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorizes tax credits on a variety of products designed to save energy, save money and protect the environment that are available through December 31, 2007.  More information on the federal tax credits is available on the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday page at www.gefa.org.

Several organizations have come together to ensure consumers are aware of the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday including the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, Georgia Department of Revenue, Alliance to Save Energy, the Clean Air Campaign, Georgia EMC, the Georgia Retail Association, Georgia Power Company, Marietta Power, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, Electric Cities of Georgia, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Additional information regarding the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday is also available on the Department of Revenue’s website at www.dor.ga.gov.

2007-2008 Change a Light Campaign Starts October 3, 2007

Governor Perdue also encouraged Georgians to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Change a Light Campaign by visiting www.energystar.gov and taking the pledge to replace at least one conventional light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified alternative.  ENERGY STAR bulbs can be purchased tax free during Georgia’s ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday.

“If every Georgian were to replace one traditional bulb in their house with an ENERGY STAR bulb, we could save millions in energy costs every year,” said Governor Perdue.

Lighting accounts for nearly 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill.  ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs use approximately 75 percent less energy than standard bulbs and last up to ten times longer.