'Cash for Appliances' program starts this spring
Filed under: Home, Green, Economizer
This year, you got paid for tossing out the clunker car. Next year, you'll be rewarded for getting rid of the energy-inefficient washer or fridge. Many states will be sponsoring a "Cash for Appliances" program, similar to "Cash for Clunkers" in that you'll be paid for doing a big spring cleaning of your old appliances and buying those labeled with the Energy Star seal. This is part of the federal government's economic stimulus plan -- it set aside $300 million in rebates for buying energy-efficient products, and state governments had to send detailed plans to Washington by earlier this month to explain how they would give that money away. So unlike Cash for Clunkers, each state is in charge of its own Cash for Appliances program.
California, for example, will focus on rebates for just three standard appliances. It will give $100 for the purchase of an Energy Star-approved clothes washer, $75 for a refrigerator and $50 for a room air-conditioner. Those rebates are in addition to any additional rebates offered by the state utility company supplying your electricity and the appliance manufacturer you buy from. The program is supposed to start in early spring.
New York is doing the program in February, offering $75 for refrigerators and washers, $50 for freezers. Florida announced April 16 to 25 as the time for residents to get rebates, offered in the form of 20% off the pre-tax sales price, up to $1,500, on new energy-efficient appliances.
One downside: Unlike cars, there's no lot you can wheel your clunker appliance to. New York is one state that's giving an incentive for recycling appliances by adding extra to your rebate amount if you show proof you recycled the freezer of fridge. But residents have the extra burden of finding out what they need to do with their old appliance before they can cash in on the new one.
To get the date and details of your state's own program, contact your state's energy department.
And act fast. That $300 million the Feds set aside goes pretty fast when divided among 56 states and territories. California only gets $35.2 million for its massive population, so it definitely pays to be first in line at the appliance store.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-30-2009 @ 9:49AM
Brad said...
Great!!!!....who needs health care or better education for our kids when you can get that brand new microwave!!...This country needs an ENIMA!!!!
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10-30-2009 @ 10:01AM
PAT said...
fabulous...who needs a new refridgerator when I cant afford to go to a dentist for 10 years... my teeth will just fall out and what would i need a refrig... for then... i would love for medicare to have a dental program !!!
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10-30-2009 @ 1:40PM
Dane said...
There's a loser in the house, and a puppet on the stool.
There's a crowded way of life, and a black reflecting pool,
and as the people bend, the moral fabric dies,the country can't pretend to ignore its people's cries. As for people talking about healthcare, if you know your politics, then you would know that any bill has to go through the house and senate get the simple majority and considering how the healthcare system has a lot of people in upper management from Capital Hill its not gonna be easy for that idea to come to fruition.WIth that being said and what someone talked about how we need to quit relying on the government for handouts... Healthcare is a right not a privilege. I believe if you have money for war you can have money to help the sick.
10-30-2009 @ 3:38PM
JACK KALIN said...
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE,YOU WILL BE LUCKY AFTER ALL THE CUTS TO MEDICARE TO BE ABLE TO SEE ANY DR.
10-30-2009 @ 10:08AM
peter said...
hmmm. I don't need the tax break but I'm thinking I can bring in my older garage fridge, move my newer kitchen one out there and buy a new one for the inside. Thanks Obama....More tax payers money being passed out for something that isn't going to help very much.
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10-30-2009 @ 2:45PM
Austin Graves said...
This isn't a waste of money, it is a way to cut down on consumer spending on less efficient products. Replacing these items not only allows less use of water, but also cuts down on cost to power usage. It this is not done, we will eventually not have enough power to run all of America. In 2030, just over twenty years, we will use as much as 1 1/2 times as much energy as we use today. That will overburden our power plants.
Although this is important for reasons I said above, it also increases consumer spending, which is the goal of the stimulus package (to get our economy back in order). Some people will not just go out and buy a new washer/dryer, even though it may save 30+ dollars a month in energy savings, unless the government steps in to make it more appealing. More money in your pocket = more you can spend to help the economy, and save for retirement. After all, we didn't just give away cars for clunkers money for fun, it was to get consumers spending, which in turn will save jobs and allowing those people to spend as well.
Austin
Financial Economics
10-30-2009 @ 10:23AM
Linda said...
Not a good idea....who really knows for sure what is really going to be offered and inocent families who may really need new appliances will hold off buying. This will greatly affect the appliance industry, and of course sales associates, and their family finances! For those who do not know, appliance companies have already lowered prices that are being passed on NOW to us. If we wait to buy, prices really may go up and therefore not the answer for true savings for families!!!
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10-30-2009 @ 10:24AM
lisak said...
obama is just cleaning up after bush so stop haten n let dat damn man d his job cus every1 knw he is better then bush...........so be mad at bush JA
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10-30-2009 @ 10:43AM
Jake said...
Apparently you didn't take or pass English class when you were in school. Maybe ask Obama if he will tutor you. Oh - my bad - he will just give you the money instead.
10-30-2009 @ 11:46AM
Tim said...
The first rule of cleaning up someone else's mess is to not make it bigger, and bigger, and bigger. This is Obama's own mess. It is another stupid control idea. The news (even the liberal ones) reported yesterday that each cahs for clunkers car actually cost the taxpayers (that is where the government gets it's money when it is not printing it) $24,000!! Plus it put people in the used car and car repair industries out of business. If this is cleaning up then leave me out.
10-30-2009 @ 10:25AM
John said...
when they make you show proof that the freon has been removed by a someone who is certified to handle freon,which will cost around $60,then your time & gas expense hauling it to the recyclying yard for which you might get maybe $5.00 if that much,just cost you more than if you just call someone who hauls scrap metal & make sure they are certified to handle freon,have them give you a statement that you had them remove it for recycling & make sure they show a certification for freon or HVAC License
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10-30-2009 @ 2:50PM
anne said...
Wow! If you still have freon in an old refrigerator that thing must be a real energy hog dinosaur! Freon has been outlawed for years!!!
10-30-2009 @ 10:30AM
wusafuz697 said...
Could we consider " cash for kids " next ?
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10-30-2009 @ 10:36AM
MeL said...
Fine, I'll say it. EVERYONE needs to quit relying on the government for handouts - including health insurance. It should NEVER be the governments responsibility to take care of any one, but indeed a privildge in this country for military veterans, mentally handicapped, natural disaster diplacement etc. Willing and able people need to get your own &%$# together and get over the wealth envy. The government has inacted this program in an effort promote energy savings. Let me break this down for anyone remotely interested in the BIG picture:
1. The U.S has a NEGATIVE oil reserve and we are at the mercy of other countries for our supply (obviously we are politically controlled)
2. Our natural gas source will be depleted somewhere between 30-60 years
3. Coal will be depleted within 200 years and much quicker if we continue to outsource to other countries. (Electricity in the U.S is powered majority in pary by coal)
That leaves nuclear power and renewable sources which I won't get in to because honestsly, I don't think you give a %$#@
The government is offering incentives to people who DO have money to stimulate the economy while at the same time promoting energy conservation.
Not surprisingly, people just care about their handout - go ahead, go stand in that government line with your hand out too. Nevermind the fact that our children's children will pay for your lack of ambition, drive and ability to be self sufficient.
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10-30-2009 @ 10:37AM
JD said...
There's got to be something wrong with the rebate numbers quoted in this article. A refrigerator costs two or three times more than a washing machine, why would a washing machine have a $100 rebate and a frig only $75? That makes no sense. The rebates should be based upon a percentage of the total price.
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10-30-2009 @ 11:56AM
Martha said...
Not now days. you can get a new Energy star ref. for about 600.00 to 2,000.00. Where as a new front load Washing machine will start at 700.00 to 2,000.00 not a lot of difference. But you can save so much more money by replacing your Washing machine. your old washing machine uses 40 Gal. of water per load. the Front load washing machine will use 12 gal per wash. and take out much more water. that will save you $$ in Electricity. 55% savings in water and 45% savings in Electricity.
10-30-2009 @ 2:50PM
anne said...
I think the rebates are based on how much energy savings you get...and the new washing machines use a lot less water than the old ones. This rebate program was voted in last year as an environmental stimulus, not an economic stimulus. It has just taken this long to get the money to the consumer because it had to go from DC to the states and then the states had to act. Politics. It's glacial.
10-30-2009 @ 10:42AM
mary said...
This oughta be a good program! Gosh, "the cash for clunkers" program only cost the taxpayers $24,000 for each car traded (the consumer got up to $4,500 for their car). This is another liberal program that wastes taxpayer money!
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10-30-2009 @ 10:46AM
teeball said...
what a friend the corporations,banks ,wall street and the union thugs have in the great obama, to bad the man on the street just gets a bone and a promise....
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10-30-2009 @ 10:45AM
john said...
in new york city you call 311 she gives number for sanitation, they come first to remove the freon gas put a yellow sticker on it then sanitaion recycle truck takes it all no charge
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