Did you know that the average home spends about $2,200 on energy bills every year? Change to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR, and you can save $75 a year in energy costs, while saving the environment.

Until recent news of an upcoming government appliance rebate program (dubbed “Cash for Appliances” or “Cash for Refrigerators”), many Americans had heard of Energy Star appliances, but didn’t really know much about them other than they cost more than average appliances.

What is Energy Star?

Many are unaware that, Energy Star is not a company; it’s a federal government label indicating energy efficiency. The Energy Star program is a joint venture between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy (DOE); it certifies products as energy efficient as a service to American consumers.

How Will the Government Appliance Rebate Program Work?

Each participating state is currently crafting a unique plan to distribute the government appliance rebate program funds to consumers who purchase energy efficient home appliances.

Consumers should expect every participating state to publish separate program rules following each state’s plan approval by the Department of Energy.

U.S. Department of Energy Recommended List of Qualifying Energy Star Home Appliances

In the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program funding opportunity announcement, the Department of Energy provided guidelines for states to consider as they craft incentive programs. Included in that guidance is a list of suggested appliances. If states follow these guidelines, consumers should expect to see the following categories of appliances covered by state appliance rebate programs:

·        Boilers

·        Central air conditioners

·        Clothes washers

·        Dishwashers

·        Freezers

·        Furnaces (gas and oil)

·        Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)

·        Refrigerators

·        Room air conditioners

·        Water heaters

The Bottom Line – Save Energy, Save Money!

When buying an appliance, remember that it has two price tags: what you pay to take it home and what you pay for the energy and water it uses. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10–50% less energy and water than standard models. The money you save on your utility bills can more than make up for the cost of a more expensive but more efficient ENERGY STAR model, and with the government appliance rebate in place the playing field has been leveled.

For top performance, premium features, and energy savings, look for energy-efficient clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers that have earned the ENERGY STAR. This mark may appear on the appliance, the packaging or the EnergyGuide label.

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