By Teresa McUsic     

It’s time to kick that old, energy-guzzling refrigerator out of your kitchen—and the State of Texas will give you a little incentive to help.

Memorial Weekend is the fifth annual Energy Star appliances sales tax holiday in Texas.

Beginning after midnight on Saturday, May 26, and ending at midnight on Memorial Day, Texans can save on local and state sales tax on an array of appliances with the Energy Star label, including:

• Air conditioners priced at $6,000 or less
• Refrigerators priced at $2,000 or less
• Ceiling fans
• Incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs
• Clothes washers
• Dishwashers
• Dehumidifiers

“As Texans focus on their household budgets, they can save twice on energy efficient appliances purchased during Memorial Day weekend,” said Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. “Shoppers do not have to pay sales tax on the appliances, and those energy efficient products will also help them save on their utility bills.”

An estimated $3.5 million in tax savings is predicted for the year, according to a comptroller spokesman. Last year, Texans saved $3.3 million over the tax-free weekend.

Now in its 20^th year, the Energy Star program is run by the Environmental Protection Agency to encourage production and purchase of energy efficient appliances. Public awareness of the blue star Energy Star labels exceeds 80 percent and 44 percent of U.S. households reported purchasing an Energy Star qualified product last year, according to the EPA.

Installation and delivery on any qualified products can be done after the tax-free weekend as long as the products are purchased during requisite hours. Labor costs also can be included in the sales tax waiver if the purchase is made this weekend.

Customers may also start a layaway plan on a qualified appliance during the weekend and still receive the sales tax waiver. The tax-free holiday also applies to Internet and catalog sales of eligible products, even if they are delivered later or temporarily backlogged or out of stock.

The big retailers also are offering discounts on Energy Star appliances this weekend. Lowe’s is offering 10 percent off all major appliances over $299 and Home Depot is offering 10 percent off all appliances costing $397 or more, according to company representatives. Smaller retailers also are putting their products on sale for the weekend, such as Texas Appliance, a chain in Fort Worth, Arlington and Hurst.

Twenty appliance manufacturer incentives also are available through this month, with some extending through June. The rebates range from 10 percent off Fridigaire appliances to $1,000 MasterCard prepaid card with the purchase of KitchenAid and JennAir appliances. For a complete listing of rebates, go to the Texas Appliance website at www.TXAppliance.com.

For more information on Energy Star products, go to www.EnergyStar.gov.

Energy savings on these products range from 10 percent on Energy Star dishwashers and room air conditioners to 75 percent on Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulb. Consumers also can save on water with Energy Star dishwashers and washing machines. Annual energy and water savings for qualified products this weekend include:

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency