The government appliance rebate program the will give those who purchase a home appliance rebates, possibly between $50 and $200, for replacing old, inefficient household appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and furnaces with newer Energy Star-rated appliances. If your thinking about renovating your kitchen , or upgrading your heating system this might be your opportunity.

Cash For Refrigerators!

The stimulus bill this year gave funds for the first time to an energy appliance rebate program set up by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The government appliance rebate would encourage people to replace old appliances with more energy-efficient models, and hopes to help appliance store owners spur sales. The federal Energy Star program covers 60 product categories like refrigerators, one of the biggest household energy hogs.

The Energy Star Program also includes everyday household appliances that the Energy Department says underscores the president’s commitment to make American homes more energy efficient while supporting the nation’s economic recovery. Energy experts say that next to your home’s heating and air conditioning, refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines are the biggest energy users. Depending on the model and type it is possible to save anywhere from $70 to $100 per year in electricity bills with new Energy Star rated appliances.

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• Room air conditioners
• Clothes washers
• Dishwashers
• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Water heaters
• Central air conditioners
• Heat pumps
• Boilers
• Furnaces (oil and gas)

When Will The Government Appliance Rebate Program Start:

Each state had until October 15, 2009 to submit their rebate program details to the U.S. Department of Energy for approval. For example New York filed in October naming its program “The Great Appliance Swap Out”, and is not expected to be in full swing until early 2010.

It’s expected that most states participating will not be fully up, and running with the appliance rebate program until early spring of 2010. Once the state’s government appliance rebate program is approved they can begin to start with the appliance rebate programs. The government appliance rebate program should be available for consumers by late 2009 or early 2010, depending on each state’s progress.

How The Rebate Program Works:

Each State will put together their own rebate plan, and submit to the Energy Department for approval using government appliance rebate guidelines. Each state will determine what appliances to include, and can decide the amounts of the appliance rebates. So far we know that appliance that will be qualified for the rebate program must be Energy Star rated, and listed by the government as participating in the rebate program.

How Will the Appliance Rebate Program Help The Economy?

The average home spends about $2,200 on energy bills every year, and changing to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR rating can save $75 a year in energy costs, while saving the environment by reducing fossil fuel emissions.

In addition consumer spending, while on the rise, should increase once the Government appliance rebate program goes into full effect. 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.

Bottom Line Save Energy Save Money!

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.

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 The government appliance rebate program will pay rebates to consumers who buy such appliances, and could get $100 back for qualified refrigerators, dishwashers and high-efficiency gas water heaters, $150 back for washers and $250 back for electric heat pump water heaters.

The Ohio appliance rebate program will be requiring new appliance buyers to properly dispose of or recycle their old appliances, but it doesn’t say how. If all goes as planned, the new appliances would cut annual energy consumption by 11,656,501 kilowatt-hours, or the equivalent of what it takes to power 11,000 to 15,000 homes, and 449,755 therms, or enough gas to heat 450 Northeast Ohio homes.  It would reduce water consumption by 175,652,211 gallons a year, or enough to fill more than 70 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The stimulus bill this year gave funds for the first time to an energy rebate program set up by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The appliance rebates would encourage people to replace old appliances with more energy-efficient models, and help appliance store owners spur sales.

The federal Energy Star program covers 60 product categories like refrigerators, one of the biggest household energy hogs. The Energy Star Program also includes everyday household appliances that the Energy Department says underscores the president’s commitment to make American homes more energy efficient while supporting the nation’s economic recovery. The government appliance rebate for Ohio should be in full swing with most participating states by late January 2010.

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If New York’s plan is approved by federal government, the “Great Appliance Swap Out” program will allow the State to issue nearly 170,000 rebates totaling $16.8 million.

Under the proposed plan, which is scheduled to be offered during President’s Week in February, 2010, rebates for high-efficiency appliances will range from $50-$105 for a single unit and up to $555 for the purchase of a three appliance package. The plan must be approved by the Federal Department of Energy (DOE), which is expected to take at least 30 days. In addition, the program encourages recycling by offering a larger rebate to consumers who recycle their discarded appliances.

“New York must continue to build a clean energy economy that will cut our energy costs and reduce our greenhouse gas pollution. This program will provide an important boost to the economy, while encouraging consumers all across New York to buy appliances that reduce energy consumption,” Governor Paterson said. “We thank President Obama and our entire Congressional Delegation for working to make this critical stimulus funding available. Without this federal funding, which will provide much-needed economic stimulus in New York, we would not have pursued this program. We look forward to receiving DOE approval and moving forward in offering these cost- and energy-saving benefits to New Yorkers.”

NYSERDA President and CEO Francis J. Murray, Jr. said: “Consumers can save hundreds of dollars a year by replacing an old appliance with the appliances we’ve included in our rebate program. The program will not only help consumers save money and reduce the environmental impact of older appliances, but will help us meet the Governor’s ambitious goals of improving our environment and decreasing our energy usage in the future.”

James R. Sherin, President and CEO of the Retail Council of New York State, said: “New technologies make new appliances for the home more energy efficient. We applaud Governor Paterson and NYSERDA for mapping out a rebate program that will help put those appliances into the homes of New Yorkers who need and want them and for working with the retail industry to ensure that it’s something we can deliver to the consumer. The rebate makes a great incentive for New Yorkers to make their households greener than ever.”

Under the proposed plan, consumers could receive government appliance rebates for purchasing eligible appliances individually or in a bundle. Appliances will qualify only if they have earned the ENERGY STAR® label, meaning that they are up to 30 percent more efficient than standard models on the market. Consumers may receive a larger rebate by purchasing three eligible appliances that meet standards issued by the Consortium of Energy Efficiency (CEE) that are higher than ENERGY STAR standards.

Under the proposed plan, customers purchasing appliances would qualify for a rebate of $75 ($105 with documented recycling) for refrigerators, $75 ($100 with documented recycling) for clothes washers and $50 ($75 with documented recycling) for freezers. Rebates are available for dishwashers when they are purchased as part of a three appliance package, which may qualify for a $500 rebate ($550 with documented recycling).

“Thanks to our collaboration with our retail partner network, there will be many retailers offering free recycling to make it easier for the customer to receive the maximum rebate,” added Murray. “NYSERDA is also coordinating efforts with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York City Department of Sanitation so consumers can also recycle their appliances at local landfills, waste stations and recycling centers.”
Consumers must be New York State residents to be eligible for the proposed rebate program. Appliances can be purchased at any retail location and must meet specified ENERGY STAR or CEE standards. The program is open only to individuals purchasing appliances for their own use. Adequate documentation of recycling must be included to receive the maximum rebate amount and the rebate cannot be combined with other appliance rebate programs from utilities or municipalities. The rebate can, however, be combined with other manufacturer rebates or retail promotions.

Rebate instructions and forms will be available at www.GetEnergySmart.org, through NYSERDA’s hotline (1-877-NY-SMART), or from a participating retailer. The application and proper documentation must be mailed for processing within 30 days of purchase and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are expended. Once the application is verified as complete, it will be processed and payment will be issued.

NYSERDA offers homeowners information on how to reduce their energy costs through its “Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®” program which offers strategies for encouraging comprehensive home energy improvements for existing homes. This program has helped more than 27,000 New Yorkers significantly cut their energy usage.

Additional information, including guidelines for the appliance rebate program and other programs to help homeowners reduce energy costs, can be found on NYSERDA’s web site at www.GetEnergySmart.org or from NYSERDA’s consumer hotline at: 877-NY-SMART.

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Whether or not you are able to afford a new energy efficient refrigerator now or later, you can take advantage of the following tips and tricks to boost efficiency:

·         Lower the temperature of the freezer, and raise that of the refrigerator. You can keep the freezer as cold as 0 degrees F, but it may take a long time to thaw foods. Keep the refrigerator at 38 degrees F or colder (any warmer will allow foods to spoil). You can check temperatures by placing a thermometer between frozen food items in the freezer or in a glass of water in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

·         Give your refrigerator some space. Maintaining about 2 inches of space around your refrigerator allows enough room for heat generated by the condenser coils and compressor to escape. This means your appliance will not have to work as hard to keep cool.

·         Position your refrigerator as far away from significant heat sources as possible. This includes direct sunlight and heat vents, as well as heat-generating appliances such as stoves and ovens.

·         Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Of course, the “don’t stand with the refrigerator door open” rule has been around as long as refrigerators, but now it is more important than ever. The cold air that escapes when the door is opened is replaced by warm air that must be cooled all over again.

·         Be sure the refrigerator and freezer doors seal tightly. You can test the seal by closing the door on a piece of paper. If you’re able to remove it easily with the door closed, it’s probably time to replace the rubber gasket around the door’s perimeter or adjust the door.

·         Don’t over-stuff your refrigerator. A full refrigerator has to work harder to stay cool than a moderately full one.

In the end purchasing a new refrigerator will pay for itself overtime, and you can use the energy and money savings towards something else you have planned such as purchasing that new energy star television. Just like the “cash for clunkers” automobile program we don’t know how long the government appliance rebate  “cash for refrigerators” program will last . Don’t be left out! 

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