New US Government Energy Star Appliance Rebates
Kitchen Clunkers Rebate Program to Begin Late 2009 to Early 2010
Sep 6, 2009
Following on the popular cash for clunkers program, the Obama administration continues to release funding for government rebate programs that assist consumers financially while reducing energy use. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, rebate monies have been set aside for an Energy Star appliance rebate program set to begin later this year.
Consumers planning to make appliance purchases in the coming 12 months may want to wait until the government rebate program is available in order to take advantage of the money saving rebate offer. Consumers should review the program details and assess their current home appliance needs in order to make appliance purchases once the program is available.
Government Appliance Rebate Program "Kitchen Clunkers"
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it is announcing a new government appliance rebate program in which up to $300 million will be made available to state energy offices. The monies are made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Each state has requested to participate in the program. Funding is provided will be proportional to the state or territory population. There is a minimum funding of $100,000 guaranteed per state or territory.
Government Rebate Programs to Begin Late 2009 and Early 2010
Government appliance rebates are set to begin in late 2009 or early 2010 and will be announced by the individual state energy office for a given state or territory. Each state will set the guidelines by which the rebates can be attained. Some may choose to provide the rebate at point of purchase while others could require a consumer mail in a rebate form.
The rebate money is available to states through February 2012, however it is expected that rebate money will be used up quickly. Consumers should plan to take advantage of the rebate program once it is available.
Government Appliance Rebate Amounts Will Vary
Rebate amounts will be set by each state’s energy office and could range from $50-$250 per appliance, depending upon purchase price or type of product.
States Will Determine Which Energy Star Appliances Qualify for the Government Rebate Program
Each state will determine which Energy Star products will be available for the rebate program. Some of the appliances which could be available for the appliance rebate include:
- Central air conditioners
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Freezers
- Furnaces
- Water Heaters
- Refrigerators
Plan for Home Appliance Purchases Cash for Clunkers Program
In anticipation of the kitchen clunkers program, consumers should assess their current home appliances to determine which require replacing in the coming 12 months. Depending on the type of appliance, a new Energy Star appliance replacing an old appliance could save a household $65-$135 per year.
When assessing home appliances, consider the following:
- An older appliance may be much larger in size than a newer energy efficient model. When seeking to replace an appliance, consider the space available when selecting an Energy Star rated appliance.
- Appliances running on natural gas may be cost less to operate than electric appliances. If natural gas is available, consider whether electric appliances can be replaced with natural gas models.
- Evaluate household needs to determine if the capacity or power of a given appliance should be increased or decreased based on family size. For example, if it's anticipated a family may grow in size in the coming years, a larger water heater may be appropriate.
As the government rebate program is for a fixed amount of money and for a limited time, consumers should plan to participate once the programs are announced by each state. Additional information on this and other programs can be found on the U.S. Department of Energy website.
For additional money saving articles, the following may be of interest:
Source:
U.S. Department of Energy, energy.gov
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