Upcoming federal rebate program is a new reason to give old appliances the heave-ho
Posted Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009 Comments
By TERESA McUSIC
Uncle Sam wants you to replace your old appliances, including air conditioners, and he’s willing to help pay for it.
The U.S. Energy Department this fall will distribute $300 million through state programs to consumers who upgrade their home appliances to high-efficiency Energy Star products. The agency said most of the money, which comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be awarded by Nov. 30.
"Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there’s enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.
Texas will get $23.3 million, the second-highest amount after California’s $35.2 million. (Funding is per capita.)
Appliances eligible for rebates include central air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers, furnaces, room air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators and water heaters.
The State Energy Conservation Office is preparing its application to the Energy Department for the appliance rebate program, said R.J. DeSilva, spokesman for the Texas comptroller, which oversees the conservation office.
Details of the plan, which must be submitted by Oct. 15, are not available, but will include which appliances the state chooses to qualify for the rebate, how much the rebates will be, when the plan will begin and how the plan will be administered, DeSilva said.
"Of the list of Energy Star appliances, some are more applicable to Texas than others," he said. "Texas is unique in terms of its climate. What we’re picking will be specific to Texas."
The conservation office is working with local utilities statewide to develop the plan, he added.
Local appliance retailers and dealers hope that the federal rebate program helps boost sales.
"I think folks will jump on it," said Harry Lewis, manager of Oliver Dyer’s Appliance in Fort Worth. Customers are routinely asking for Energy Star products now, Lewis said.
"With appliances, you’re not paying a premium for Energy Star ratings," he said. "You can get Energy Star dishwashers for $250."
Lewis hopes that major appliance manufacturers will match the federal rebates when they become available.
At the moment, KitchenAid is the only manufacturer offering rebates on its Energy Star products. They range from $100 to $500, issued on a prepaid MasterCard, for purchases of two to five Energy Star KitchenAid products. That rebate program ends Oct. 17.
Oncor, the utility that distributes electricity to most of North Texas, also has a $50 rebate program for refrigerators or freezers in working condition. More than 900 units have been purchased by the utility since the program began last year, according to an Oncor spokeswoman. Call Oncor’s partner in the program, Appliance Recycling Centers of America, at 866-472-9376 to see whether you qualify or visit www.oncorrecycle.com.
The Energy Department’s fall appliance rebate program will add to several incentives already in place for Energy Star products. Savings could reach up to $4,200, said Larry Taylor, president of AirRite Air Conditioning Co., a Fort Worth contractor.
