Cash for Appliances - Obama Freezer Rebates

Buy a New Energy Star Freezer and Save Money with Stimulus Rebates

Sep 25, 2009 Cyndi Allison

Replace an old freezer or invest in a first-time new Energy Star freezer under the Obama Cash for Clunker Appliances rebate program.

Families needing to replace old energy guzzling freezers or those who have been considering adding a home freezer can cash in for savings under the Cash for Appliances rebate program. The program, which is similar to the Cash for Clunkers 2009 car program sponsored under Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provides government rebate money on the purchase of select Energy Star appliances including, in some states, home freezers.

Home freezers are on the recommended list by the United States Department of Energy; however, each state is tasked with designing a rebate plan. So, some states may cover freezer purchases while others may not. In addition, the rebate savings will vary from state to state with estimates of rebates ranging from $50 to $200 per qualified purchase. Very likely, freezers, which cost much less than other appliances on the appliance rebate list, will garner lower rebate cash than items like home heating and cooling systems.

No Freezer Trade In? No Problem.

Freezer buyers do not have to trade in old clunker freezers to get rebates in the Cash for Appliances program. The federal government is not overseeing the program as they did in Cash for Clunkers (cars), so there is no requirement to produce an old appliance in order to buy a new appliance.

Freezer owners could, in fact, sell off old models and use the extra cash toward the purchase of newer Energy Star freezer models; however, the intention of the program is to get old freezers out of circulation. Energy Star freezers use 10% less electricity than new freezers not rated Energy Star, and savings are even greater when compared to older model freezers. Going green makes sense and saves money.

Consumers likely will not need to worry about disposal of old clunker freezers. Most appliance stores provide disposal service. In addition, states are required to have recycling plans in place in order to cash in on Cash for Appliances.

How Much Money Can be Saved by Buying an Energy Star Freezer?

A number of factors come into play when calculating the savings on freezers. Power rates vary state to state, chest model freezers use less energy than stand up models, and a full freezer uses less energy than one that does not have much food stored. Opening and closing the freezer door a lot can also impact. But, still the savings with an Energy Star freezer model are clear.

In a case example, consider a chest-style freezer owner in North Carolina. With the freezer measuring in at 19 to 24 cubic feet and with an energy rate at .0761, the cost of running the 2003 freezer is $70.32 per year. That compares to a similar newer Energy Star model in the same state which costs $34 in power per year. The North Carolina freezer owner cuts her costs in half with an Energy Star freezer.

Consumers can visit Energy Star and check rates with the Energy Star calculator to determine current freezer costs and projected savings with an updated Energy Star model. State rates can be found with a click of the mouse and model types and years are also easy to select with clicks. It takes less than a minute to calculate Energy Star savings at the government site.

Is a Freezer a Good Appliance Buy?

While sales in the appliance industry overall are down, freezers are the exception during a time of economic stress. More families are breaking grounds on gardens and buying in bulk from stores like Sam’s Club. Extra food storage space can come in handy and can be a savings strategy.

Generally speaking, large families who eat at home often and families who garden, hunt, and buy in bulk are good candidates for stand alone freezer purchases. A good indication is when the freezer built in with the refrigerator is always packed and overflowing.

Does it Make Sense to Replace an Old But Working Freezer?

With the Cash for Appliances rebates scheduled for December 2009, it is a good time to replace an old freezer. Energy Star estimates that running a 1980s freezer adds $70 per year to the power bill while a 1970s freezer checks in at four times the power usage versus a new Energy Star model. With an average lifespan of 15-20 years on a freezer, families with the older models are on borrowed time, so upgrading and going green with a rebate can be a sweet deal.

Learn more about the Cash for Appliances program and cash in on the rebate savings.

The copyright of the article Cash for Appliances - Obama Freezer Rebates in Personal Budgeting/Finance is owned by Cyndi Allison. Permission to republish Cash for Appliances - Obama Freezer Rebates in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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