Massachusetts Residents Can Save More Than Just Tax Dollars This Weekend

Lowe's Recommends Energy-Smart Purchases to Help Make the Most of the State's Tax-Free Holiday

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Massachusetts residents may be battling record breaking heat waves this month, but snowy weather and frigid lows are just around the corner. That's why Lowe's is encouraging residents to save money now during the state's tax-free holiday, August 12-13, by purchasing products for their home that can also save on energy costs later in the year.

"The average homeowner spent $1,900 on home energy bills last year," said Michael Chenard, Lowe's director of environmental affairs. "ENERGY STAR qualified products use up to 50 percent less energy and operate more efficiently than conventional models. That translates to savings year after year on household energy costs."

High efficiency ENERGY STAR qualified products including clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, ceiling fans, compact fluorescent light bulbs, entry and patio doors, programmable thermostats, and windows that are $2,500 or less are among the items excluded from sales taxes.

Additionally, consumers who purchase and install certain ENERGY STAR qualified products such as insulation, skylights, replacement windows and doors now through December 31, 2007 may be eligible to receive a tax credit of up to $500 on their 2006 or 2007 tax returns. To claim the tax credit on products covered by the federal tax credit, consumers should keep their receipts and consult a qualified tax advisor for eligibility requirements.

To make the home more energy efficient, Lowe's offers the following tips:

- Install an ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat with pre-
programmed settings to help reduce heating and cooling bills by as much
as $100 annually.
- Replace an old ceiling fan with an ENERGY STAR qualified ceiling fan
and light kit to save up to $15-25 a year.
- Keep cold air out and prevent warm air from escaping by sealing leaky
windows and doors with caulk and weather-stripping. If replacing
windows, save $20-95 a year in energy bills by choosing ENERGY STAR
qualified models.
- Update appliances with ENERGY STAR qualified models, which use 10-50
percent less energy than standard models and save as much as $200
yearly.
- Replace five of the most frequently used lights with ENERGY STAR
qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs, which last up to seven years
longer than regular bulbs, for energy savings of up to $42 over the
lifetime of each bulb.

To learn more about making your home more energy efficient, visit Lowes.com/energy and select "ENERGY STAR @ Home."

This year, Lowe's earned a fourth consecutive ENERGY STAR award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) for the company's comprehensive nationwide programs promoting energy efficiency and helping consumers learn about the advantages of using ENERGY STAR products and solutions.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR, a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency, partners with retailers and manufacturers of appliances, light bulbs and building materials to increase the adoption and use of energy efficient products and techniques.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2005 sales of $43.2 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 12 million customers a week at more than 1,250 home improvement stores in 49 states. Based in Mooresville, N.C., the 60-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.