Cash For Clunkers Over; Next Up for 2009: $300 Million To Ditch Your Clunker Appliances

Vivi Gorman
Posted on Tuesday 25th August 2009

In July, the Department of Energy announced a $300 rebate program under the Recovery Act to encourage consumers to buy new ENERGY STAR-rated home appliances.

Each state or territory will be tasked will receive funding upon identifying categories of appliances for their specific program and rebate levels and details. States and territories must also plan for recycling old appliances.

Heating and cooling appliances and water heaters are the main categories DOE wants to promote for the greatest energy savings potential. The program is designed to facilitate economic growth, creating jobs, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. DOE notes that states and territories can use these funds to leverage utility companies and energy efficiency program sponsors in their area.

Appliances covered under the program include:

  • central air conditioners
  • heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
  • boilers
  • furnaces (oil and gas)
  • room air conditioners
  • clothes washers
  • dishwashers
  • freezers
  • refrigerators
  • water heaters

DOE Secretary Steven Chu said, “Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there’s enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month. These rebates will help families make the transition to more efficient appliances, making purchases that will directly stimulate the economy and create jobs.”

The ENERGY STAR program is a labeling program to help consumers make informed decisions when purchasing energy efficient products. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DOE with regard to more than 60 product categories and is supported by a network of almost 600 utility and state and government partners serving more than 74 million households, over 2,000 retail partners representing more than 27,000 storefronts, and 2,645 manufacturers of ENERGY STAR-qualified products.

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