Subsidy for Home Electric Appliances to Begin Next Year 冷氣冰箱換新補助3千 最快明年1/1上路

Next year, anyone purchasing "energy-saving home electric appliances," such as air conditioners, refrigerators, may receive a NT$3,000 grant. 

The Ministry of Economic Affairs estimated that there are 7,070,000 home electric appliances over 10 years old in the nation, of which air conditioners and refrigerators constitute 40 percent. It thus encourages replacing those energy-consuming old appliances with new energy-saving ones by reinstituting the energy-savings grant, with the highest grant at NT$3,000. However, people's reactions vary.

Citizen: “Home electric appliances cost a lot, so only if it's absolutely necessary will we change the current ones. One normally would not spend the money based on a small grant. Of course, being environmentally conscious is a good thing, but it comes with costs.”

Citizen: “If we happen to be buying electric appliances and related items, then it (the grant) is a good incentive.”

The Ministry of Economic Affairs noted that the budget for "residential energy-saving home electric appliances" is set for NT$2 billion. Each primary energy-efficient air conditioner or refrigerator may receive NT$3,000 in grants respectively. The Ministry of Economic Affairs also budgeted NT$1 billion in grants for commercial and service energy-saving equipment, including level-1 energy-efficient air conditioners and LED lighting equipment with the energy-saving label, with the highest individual case grant up to NT$5 million. The program may begin as early as Jan. 1 next year.

Wang Mei-hua, Minister of Economic Affairs: “The Economics Committee passed the initial review for the budget yesterday and will pass it on to the Legislative Yuan. If passed, we plan for it to begin on Jan. 1 next year.”

In addition, the "Purchase Energy-saving Electric Appliance Reduced Commodity Tax Refund" measures of the Ministry of Finance will be postponed till the middle of June next year. Level-1 and level-2 efficiency refrigerators and air conditioners purchasers may enjoy a tax refund of NT$2,000 per appliance, and coupled with the Ministry of Economic Affairs' grant, a consumer can receive up to NT$5,000 in discount. Those planning to purchase home electric appliances should wait a bit. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said that if the budget for energy-saving home electric appliances grant is used up, it will finish early. Relevant details will be further explained officially next week.

機齡超過10年老舊家電，經濟部估算，全國有高達707萬台，其中冷氣、冰箱共佔4成。鼓勵耗能家電汰舊換新，經濟部重啟節能家電補助，最高可補助3千元。不過民眾反應兩極。

民眾指出：「家電也是高消費，就是有需要的時候才會去做更換，所以不會因為有一個補助就去花這個錢。環保當然是很好的事情，但它是需要成本的。」

另一位民眾提及：「如果剛好有要買家電的東西的話，（補助）那可能就蠻大的誘因。」

經濟部表示，針對住宅節能家電共編列20億，購買一級能效冷氣、電冰箱，每台補助3000元。經濟部另編列10億，用於商業、服務業節能設備補助，包括一級能效冷氣機或節能標章LED照明產品，最高個案補助可達500萬元，最快明年1月1日上路。

經濟部長王美花表示：「我們昨天是經濟委員會預算初審通過，會到立法院大會審查。通過的話，我們預計是希望明年1月1號就可以施行。」

另外，財政部購買節能電器退還減徵貨物稅措施延到明年6月中，購買1、2級能效冰箱、冷氣，每台還可退稅2千元。加上經濟部補助，最高優惠達5千塊，有購置家電計畫民眾可再緩一緩。經濟部表示，節能家電補助預算用完，就會提早結束，相關細節，下周正式對外說明。