State Offering Rebates For Energy Efficient Appliance Upgrades
February 8, 2010 by Josh Morgan
Is that old broken fridge not keeping your drinks cold anymore? Is your washing machine doing more harm than good to your linens? Did your air conditioner finally die after three years on life support?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could be in luck, as the state is sponsoring a rebate program to reward those who purchase new Energy Star appliances.
The state received $3.4 million from the Department of Energy to sponsor the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. Similar to the popular Cash For Clunkers program that ran last year, the Energy Efficient Appliance Program will provide rebates to customers of $50 to $500, depending on the purchase. For instance, if someone buys an Energy Star refrigerator, they will receive a $50 rebate. If they upgrade their central air conditioning to an Energy Star model, they could receive a rebate of $500. The program runs until April 30, but once all the money is spent, the program will expire.
“There are very strict standards here and you can only get the rebate if you buy an Energy Star appliance,” explained State Representative Elizabeth Esty, D-103. “The largest rebates are for the most expensive appliances, but those are usually the ones that use the most energy.”
The program is only available to people who are replacing their older, inefficient appliances, not buying new appliances for the first time. Esty said the Energy Star appliances would save families money but, of course, they have to replace the appliance and not store the old fridge in the garage, Esty said.
“I encourage people not to use the old ones after buying a new fridge or freezer, keeping the old one in the garage,” Esty said. “People are encouraged to swap out the appliances, not add new ones.”
Rich Ogurick, chairman of the Cheshire Energy Commission, said Energy Star appliances and energy efficient technology make a big difference to the average electric bill. For instance, compact fluorescent light bulbs can save 50 percent on lighting costs, plus the bulbs last longer. The same principle is applied to Energy Star appliances like clothes washers. According to the Energy Star Web site, the average family does 400 loads of laundry per year. When switching from an old machine to a new Energy Star model, that same family could cut their water usage in half, and cut their energy bill by a third. With those monetary savings, the family could then purchase a dryer.
“No doubt Energy Star products could save a lot of money,” Ogurick said. “I think these rebates are just icing on the cake. People should look at these regardless, but I think incentives will help.”
Ogurick said that, typically, Energy Star appliances have a premium attached to them, so the rebates could help recover some of that money. He hopes that even if the incentives dry up, people will consider switching to Energy Star when they buy their next appliances.
“These products and Energy Star appliances have been on the market for a number of years and when it comes to replacing an appliance, you should go with Energy Star, no question,” Ogurick said. “They are so much more energy efficient.”
Esty said upgrading the appliances to newer models would help save money and encouraged people to take advantage of the rebates while they last, because the money will most likely go quickly.
“These new rebates are a great opportunity for people to save on their energy bills, support local businesses, and help the environment. It is a win for everyone, particularly in these tough economic times,” Esty said. “I encourage folks to apply early, as similar programs in the past have been so popular that the available funds ran out quickly.”
For more information, visit the Web, www.ct.gov/opm/appliancerebates. More information about the Cheshire Energy Commission can be found online at www.CheshireEnergyCommission.org.