BELLEVUE, Wash. — If you operate in Washington and purchase your energy from Puget Sound Energy (PSE), now may be the time to update your equipment. PSE offers rebates for efficient commercial washing machines, says Doug Dickerson, Puget Sound Energy commercial rebate program manager.Coin laundry owners can get an incentive from both their energy utility and their water or wastewater utility for a total of up to $500 per qualifying machine. In addition to rebates for washers, PSE also provides rebates for efficient hot water boilers and water heaters that serve laundries. That rebate is $3 per thousand Btu/hour for qualifying water heaters and $6 per thousand btu/hr. for qualifying boilers.Since the program was revitalized in 2004, 481 rebates have been provided for efficient washers. The programs have been set in two-year intervals and the current one ends at the end of this year. “We don’t have a problem with funding through the end of the year and also expect to continue the program into the two years that follow for both washing machines and water heaters/boilers.”It’s easy to apply, Dickson explains. “Applications can be downloaded from our website at www.pse.com/solutions/ForBusiness_EfficiencyPrograms.aspx or you can call 800-562-1482.“I don’t think we have reached all of the laundry owners with information about our program,” he says. “Many of the owners are of various ethnic backgrounds and there is a large communication barrier.”“Right now, to my knowledge, we are the only energy utility providing rebates for commercial washers in Washington, but others are considering it,” Dickson adds.
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