Rebates & Incentives

With all those miles of sandy beaches and groves of orange trees, who could argue with naming Florida the Sunshine State? From Tallahassee to Miami, and at all points in between, Florida has an amazing outdoor environment warmed by the sun. Is there a more perfect location for using solar energy resources? Read on to find out what the Florida legislature is doing to promote clean energy and protect the environment.

In July 2007, Governor Charlie Crist signed two executive orders (EO 126 & 127) calling for Florida to increase its use of renewable energies, including solar power. However, upon backing up this order with some real regulations, Crist has come under fire from his political opponents. Before his tenure, the legislature did manage to pass the Florida Energy Act in 2006. This set aside money for grants and rebates. In particular, the act offers a $0.01/kWh credit to power companies that use renewable energy. This act also established a grant program for corporations and other organizations to research and develop renewable power sources.

Florida does not have a net-metering policy yet. Utilities get to make it up as they go. There are interconnection standards for systems up to 10kW though. For example, JEA offers net-metering for residential users, but not to commercial customers. The net excess power generated is credited to the customer’s account. On the other hand, the Tallahassee Electric Utility does not compensate customers for net excess power generated at the end of a 12-month billing cycle.

As part of the 2006 Florida Energy Act, the Solar Energy Systems Incentives Program offers rebates for individuals or businesses to purchase solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and solar thermal pool heating systems. Solar photovoltaic systems are eligible for a $4/watt rebate, capped at $20,000 for homes and $100,000 for businesses. Solar thermal systems are eligible for a $500 residential rebate or $15/BTU, capped at $5,000 for businesses. Rebates of $100 are also available for solar thermal pool heater installation.

Solar Energy Systems Incentives Program Rebate can help. Here is their application and FAQ. This program is HUGE. You can get $5000 for a solar water heater and FOUR DOLLARS A WATT for a photovoltaic solar system. So say the standard home system installed is 3kW, you’re gonna get $12,000 from the state! Match that with the federal $2000 tax credit and you’re looking at a VERY cheap system. (Note: this money is first come first serve. They have $3.5 million allocated).

• If you are a business solar systems and solar water heaters, among other things, are tax exempt.
• SunSmart Schools - Are you a school and you want Florida state money to install a solar power system in your school? The SunSmart program is funded by the state and managed by Florida Solar Energy Center.
• Are you a homebuilder in Florida? Sunbuilt has incentives in the form of rebates for Solar Water heaters, in addition to other services.

Solar energy systems and the components of such systems as certified by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) are exempt from tax under Section 212.08(7) (hh), F.S. The term "solar energy system" means the equipment and requisite hardware that provide and are used for collecting, transferring, converting, storing, or using incidental solar energy for water heating, space heating and cooling, or other applications that would otherwise require the use of a conventional source of energy such as petroleum products, natural gas, manufactured gas, or electricity.

FPL Rebates

The objective of the Residential Building Envelope Program is to reduce electrical demand and energy usage from air conditioning equipment by encouraging energy conservation through the installation of qualifying measures.

The first round of Sun Funds is fully allocated.We are no longer accepting applications. Watch this site for information about future rebate offers.

The Sun Funds program offers additional rebates of $1.50 per watt on a first come, first served basis. Note that this is a limited time offer!

Rebates from the Sun Funds program and the State can save you a significant amount on your solar installation. The combined Sun Funds and State rebates total as much as $5.50 per watt** — about half the cost of an average residential solar electric system. A typical solar electric system can cost homeowners $8 to $10 per watt, according to the Florida Solar Energy Center.

Residential Incentive Values by System Size
System Size	FPL Sunshine Energy Rebate	State Rebate*	Total Incentive
2KW	$3,000	$8,000	$11,000
3kW	$4,500	$12,000	$16,500
4kW	$6,000	$16,000	$22,000
5kW	$7,500	$20,000**	$27,500
6kW	$9,000	$20,000**	$29,000
7kW	$10,500	$20,000**	$30,500

* Based on availability of State funds and customer eligibility.
** Maximum State rebate amount per residential system.

For many businesses, a constant flow of hot water and air conditioning is essential to profitable operations. While maintaining these necessities can account for a large portion of your energy bills, two technologies can help your business increase energy efficiency through the dual operation of your electric water heating and cooling equipment. Even better news, FPL will help you pay to install the technology.

• Recycles rejected heat from your air conditioning or refrigeration system and uses it to heat water.
• Heats water 50% more efficiently than a standard electric water heater.
• Reclaims heat normally rejected to the outside air and is typically installed on the hot gas side of air conditioning units.

• Reclaims energy from the air, water or ground sources, and directly heats water.
• Heats water three to four times more efficiently than its conventional electric counterpart.

1. Lower cost of hot water – HRUs and HPWHs provide the same reliable supply of hot water as standard electric water heaters for a savings of 50% or more.
2. Reduced air conditioning costs – HRUs allow your HVAC system to operate more efficiently by increasing the heat rejection of the condenser system. HPWHs can also cool and dehumidify indoor air, allowing a reduction in HVAC equipment operation time. In new construction, installing a HPWH can reduce air conditioning needs, allowing you to downsize and save on your HVAC equipment purchase.
3. FPL incentive – FPL offers an incentive toward the installation of HRU or HPWH technology, depending on equipment type and size.

For more information about FPL’s energy-saving services: call our Business Care Center at 1-800-FPL-5566 (1-800-375-5566) or contact your customer manager.

• Roof and ceiling insulation.
• Reflective roof measures.
• Window treatments (i.e., solar film, solar screens, or high efficiency window replacements).

• Lower air conditioning bills every year.
• A more comfortable environment for employees and patrons.
• A longer life for business equipment and furnishings.

• Your A/C system operates between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays, April through October.
• The work is pre-approved by FPL and performed by an FPL Participating Independent Contractor. (Your FPL incentive will be in the form of an up-front discount on the cost of the job.)

For more information about FPL’s energy-saving services: call our Business Care Center at 1-800-FPL-5566 (1-800-375-5566) or contact your customer manager.

Flordia Rebates

Although some of these programs are available for all citizens, the information below is tailored to the needs of Florida businesses and residents. Visitors outside Florida should check with their state government to find out more about the types of energy incentives and options available to them.

The 2006 Florida Energy Act created a renewable energy technologies grants program, a solar rebate program, a renewable energy technologies tax incentive program and provides a sales tax holiday for energy efficient products. Additional funding was provided by the 2007 Florida Legislature to continue the grant and solar rebate programs.

A comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.

View DSIRE Website

Designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Signed by President Bush on August 8, 2005, offers consumers and businesses federal tax credits beginning in January 2006 for purchasing fuel-efficient hybrid-electric vehicles and energy-efficient appliances and products. Most of these tax credits remain in effect through 2007.

Explore options for saving energy and money by using renewable energy at home, at work, in the community and while driving.

In Florida, hybrids and low emissions vehicles are always permitted in the HOV lane, regardless of passenger occupancy. Check with the Florida Department of Highway Safety to make sure your car qualifies and inquire about getting a decal.

Online collection of data and incentives including more than 3000 documents and several interactive tools covering the topics of alternative transportation fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, idle reduction technologies, fuel blends and fuel economy.

Incentive Type:	Property Tax Exemption
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Solar Water Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Geothermal Heat Pumps Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Residential
Amount:	100% exemption
Terms:	Renewable energy device must be installed on or after 1/1/2009
Authority 1:	Fla. Stat. § 196.175
Authority 2:	HB 7135
Date Enacted:	6/25/2008
Effective Date:	7/1/2008

In June 2008, Florida enacted legislation that revived a renewable energy property tax exemption that had previously expired in 1990. Under Florida law, improved real property upon which a renewable energy source device* is installed and operated is entitled to an exemption in the amount of the original cost of the device, including the installation cost. The exemption does not include the cost of replacing, removing or improving existing property in the course of the installation.

Renewable energy devices must be installed on or after January 1, 2009, to qualify for the exemption, and the exemption will not be authorized for more than 10 years. If the renewable energy device was operative for less than a full calendar year preceding the taxpayer's exemption application, the exempt amount will be reduced proportionally.

*The legislation states that a "renewable energy source device means any of the following equipment which, when installed in connection with a dwelling unit or other structure, collects, transmits, stores, or uses solar energy, wind energy, or energy derived from geothermal deposits: solar energy collectors; storage tanks and other storage systems, excluding swimming pools used as storage tanks; rockbeds; thermostats and other control devices; heat exchange devices; pumps and fans; roof ponds; freestanding thermal containers; pipes, ducts, refrigerant handling systems, and other equipment used to interconnect such systems (however, conventional backup systems of any type are not included in this definition); windmills; wind-driven generators; power conditioning and storage devices that use wind energy to generate electricity or mechanical forms of energy; pipes and other equipment used to transmit hot geothermal water to a dwelling or structure from a geothermal deposit."

Taxpayer Services
Florida Department of Revenue
1379 Blountstown Hwy.
Tallahassee, FL 32304-2716
Phone: (800) 352-3671
Phone 2: (850) 488-6800
Web site: http://www.myflorida.com/dor


STATE OF FLORIDA
Solar Energy System Incentives Program Rebate Application Form - View
Florida Solar Rebates - Frequently Asked Questions - View

Tax Savings

Even though that some of the rebate amounts have decreased, it is still worth it to take advantage of these rebates. The rebates are now 10% up to $500 dollars cap.

• $500 Tax Credit for Installing a Metal Roof and Metal roofing is reported to save a Florida homeowner about 23% annually in cooling costs, compared to a dark gray asphalt shingle roof.
• $500 Tax Credit for AttiCat Insulation
• 10% up to $200 Tax Credit for Skylights
• 30% (no cap) Tax Credit for Ventilation and PV System
• Make sure you fill out IRS Form 5965 when filing your taxes.
• Click Here For More Information

As a result of the Stimulus Package signed in February of 2009, homeowners who make energy efficient updates to their home - the installation of a painted or coated Energy Star® labeled metal roof included - between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 may be eligible for a tax credit worth 30% of the installation costs (materials only) up to $1,500 per home over the two-year period.

• $1500 Tax Credit for Installing a Metal Roof
• Homes upgraded with quality metal roofing typically see costs recouped at more than three quarters of the job cost!
• Metal roofing is reported to save a Florida homeowner about 23% annually in cooling costs, compared to a dark gray asphalt shingle roof.
• Have the metal roof installed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.
• Fill out IRS Form 5965 when filing your taxes for 2009 and/or 2010.

On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008." This bill extended tax credits for energy efficient home improvements (windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters). Tax credits for these residential products, which had expired at the end of 2007, will now be available for improvements made during 2009. However, improvements made during 2008 are not eligible for a tax credit.

• Tax Credits for Consumers
• Home Improvements
• Cars
• Solar Energy Systems
• Small Wind Energy Systems
• Fuel Cells
• Tax Credits for Home Builders
• Tax Deductions for Commercial Buildings

Click Here For More Information

The bill also extended tax credits for solar energy systems and fuel cells to 2016. New tax credits were established for small wind energy systems and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Tax credits for builders of new energy efficient homes and tax deductions for owners and designers of energy efficient commercial buildings were also extended.

On February 27, 2008 the House passed $18.1 billion in renewable energy tax incentives (H.R. 5351), including an extension of the tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements.

A tax credit can provide significant savings. It reduces the amount of income tax you have to pay. Unlike a deduction, which reduces the amount of income subject to tax, a tax credit directly reduces the tax itself. You must refer to the final Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules to determine what qualifies for the tax credit.

Please note, not all ENERGY STAR qualified homes and products qualify for a tax credit. These tax credits are available for a number of products at the highest efficiency levels, which typically cost much more than standard products. If, for whatever reason, you decide not to purchase a product covered by the tax credit, you may still consider purchasing an ENERGY STAR product. ENERGY STAR distinguishes energy efficient products which, although they may cost more to purchase than standard models, will pay you back in lower energy bills within a reasonable amount of time, without a tax credit.

• At least half of the energy generated by the "qualifying property" must come from the sun. Homeowners may only claim spending on the solar water heating system property, not the entire water heating system of the household.
• The credit is not available for expenses for swimming pools or hot tubs.
• The water must be used in the dwelling.
• The system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC).

Congress Extends Tax Incentives for Energy Efficient Homes and Commercial Buildings
Congress has passed and President Bush has signed legislation that extends the tax incentives for energy efficient new homes and commercial building to December 31, 2008. All of the provisions for the incentives remain the same.

The IRS has issued the rules for the new federal tax credits for residential energy efficiency available under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.


Under the provision for energy efficient homes, an eligible contractor who constructs a qualified new energy efficient home may qualify for a credit of up to $2,000. The credit is available for all new homes, including manufactured homes constructed in accordance with the Federal Manufactured Homes Construction and Safety Standards.

In general, to meet the energy saving requirements, a home must be certified to provide a level of heating and cooling energy consumption that is at least 30 to 50 percent in the case of manufactured homes, and 50 percent for other homes below that of a comparable home constructed in accordance with the standards of the 2004 Supplement to the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code. It must also have building envelope component improvements providing a level of heating and cooling energy consumption that is at least 10 percent below that of a comparable home.

Residential Energy Credits - View
Guide to Federal Tax Incentives for Solar Energy - View
Energy Efficient Home Credit - View
VELUX Tax Rebate Brochure - View