Purchase a New Home Appliance and Save Big With the Government Appliance Rebate Program

Purchase a New Home Appliance and Save Big With the Government Appliance Rebate Program

The "cash for clunkers" program has ended, but another government rebate program has begun, and will offer rebates for the purchase of home appliances, and result in better energy efficiency. The new stimulus program is a government appliance rebate program that comes off the heels of the "cash for clunkers" program and into the home. The U.S. Department of Energy is working with all 50 states to hand out $300 million to persuade consumers to trade in old, energy guzzling appliances for new, energy efficient models.

The government appliance rebate program will give the purchaser of a qualified 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.

Did you know that the average home spends about $2,200 on energy bills every year? Changing to home appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR rating, can save $75 a year in energy costs, while saving the environment. Until recent news of the government appliance rebate (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.

How Will the Government Appliance Rebate Program Work?

Each participating state will be required to put together a unique plan to distribute the government appliance rebate program funds to consumers who purchase energy efficient home appliances. For example the state of New York has initiated their plan, and will be offering rebates under a program coined "The Great Appliance Swap Out". Although the program initiated October of 09 it is not expected to be in full swing until early 2010.

The states participating will offer rebates to consumers who purchase home appliances in the following categories:

o Boilers
o Central air conditioners
o Clothes washers
o Dishwashers
o Freezers
o Furnaces (gas and oil)
o Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
o Refrigerators
o Room air conditioners
o 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 for home appliance purchases has been leveled.