Commercial Clothes Washer

Rebate Information

Get a rebate up to $600 per clothes washer when you replace standard clothes washers in your business or multifamily common-area laundry room with high-efficiency models! The rebate amount cannot exceed the purchase price of the clothes washer. Parts, sales tax, and installation labor are not included.

Commercial clothes washer rebates apply to washers installed in laundromats, commercial operations that rely on on-site laundry facilities (e.g., lodging, spas, salons, health clubs, etc.), and multifamily (e.g., condominiums, townhomes, apartments, etc.) common-area laundry rooms.

If you're a laundromat business owner replacing a single washer with a high-efficiency model can save about 50,000 gallons of water per year. This water savings estimate assumes the clothes washer runs about 6 cycles per day.

If you're a multifamily property owner with a common-area laundry room, you can save close to 24,000 gallons of water per year per washer when replacing a standard washer with a high-efficiency model (based on three washer run cycles per day).

When you replace multiple washers with high-efficiency models in your business or common-area laundry room, the water savings increase substantially. However, the good news does not end here. In addition to reducing your water bill, the water savings also translates into reduced energy costs as high-efficiency washers are estimated to use up to one-half the energy of a standard washer. Lastly, less water use also means that you'll save money on your sewer bill.

In addition to the water, sewer, and energy-saving benefits described, high-efficiency commercial washers also offer other advantages over standard models:

  • Tests have shown that high-efficiency washers get clothes cleaner and rinse more thoroughly
  • They use advanced wash systems to gently flip and spin clothes through a reduced stream of water so customer's clothes last longer
  • They use faster spin speeds to extract more water from clothes, reducing the drying time and dryer energy use
  • They have more capacity than standard top-load models with an agitator, so commercial laundries and property managers can charge a higher per load price and potentially increase revenue

Current Rebates

Up to $600 if you replace an existing standard clothes washer with a new ENERGY STAR® qualified commercial washer.

ENERGY STAR commercial washers have a Water Factor of 4.5 or less. The Water Factor is the number of gallons of water needed for each cubic foot of laundry. The lower the Water Factor, the more water-efficient the washer.

Please note that some commercial ENERGY STAR® washers may also qualify for a rebate from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). Check with PG&E to see what clothes washer rebates are currently available.

Qualifying Clothes Washers

See the listing of ENERGY STAR qualified commercial washers.

ENERGY STAR qualified washers can also be identified by the presence of the program's logo on the washer itself.

If you do not have internet access or require assistance determining whether a particular high-efficiency clothes washer qualifies for a rebate, please call our Conservation Department at 831-475-8500.

Clothes Washer Rebate Eligibility

Complete rebate eligibility requirements are listed on the Clothes Washer Rebate Application (PDF). However, we still want you to be aware of the following:

  • Clothes washers must be installed and rebate applications must be postmarked within 90 days of the purchase date.
  • Purchased or leased clothes washers must be new.
  • The rebate amount cannot exceed the purchase price of the clothes washer. Parts, sales tax, and installation labor are not included.
  • Rebated clothes washers must remain at the business or common area laundry facility and be kept in use for a minimum of five years. If the washing machines are not used for the full five-year period, the rebate recipient must refund a prorated share of the rebate to SqCWD based on the number of months remaining in the five year period.
  • For leased washers, a new signed contract is required with a minimum five year agreement. The contract must list the make, model number and serial number of the washers installed. The rebate applicant must submit a copy of the contract with the rebate application.
  • The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires all rebate program participants receiving $600 or more per calendar year in rebates to be issued an IRS Form 1099 unless exemptions apply. If you have received rebates from Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) totaling $600 or more in the current calendar year, you must submit a completed IRS W-9 Form (PDF) with your rebate application to receive a rebate. The Social Security or Tax ID number requested in the rebate application process is in compliance with exemptions to the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, 42 UCS 405 (c)(2)(c). Social Security numbers provided as part of the application process are held in confidence under terms of the Privacy Act and are not divulged or otherwise conveyed to individuals or organizations outside the SqCWD Rebate Program.