“Cash for Appliances Washington” offers extra cash back for trading in energy hogs for new models
Olympia, Wash. — March 1, 2010 — Many homeowners may not realize their appliances are a big energy drain, and a drain on their wallet. “Cash for Appliances Washington”, available soon throughout Washington State, offers consumers extra cash back to help them make the switch to a new energy efficient refrigerator or clothes washer.
Older fridges built in the 1990s or earlier, can cost up to $200 a year to run, compared to current energy efficient models that cost around $40. Clothes washers that are more than 10 years old, add an extra $135 per year in utility costs compared to a new ENERGY STAR® qualified model. In addition to obtaining extra cash back after purchase, participants will save money month after month on their utility bills.
Cash for Appliances Washington is available on purchases made on or after March 15, 2010 until December 1, 2010, or until funds run out – whichever comes first. It offers $100 cash back on new clothes washers and $75 on new refrigerators when the old unit is recycled. These cash back incentives are in addition to the incentives offered through Washington utilities for purchasing new and recycling old appliances.
“Washington has an objective to improve statewide per capita energy efficiency by 10% by 2012, towards a goal of 20% by 2020. Cash for Appliances Washington is a great use of our federal energy related recovery funds. We stimulate the appliance marketplace by offering consumers a good reason to purchase a new appliance now. We reduce water and energy consumption which helps preserve the natural beauty and environment of our state, and consumers reduce their long-term energy bills,” says Rebecca Stillings, Energy Policy Specialist for the Washington State Department of Commerce.
The program is expected to result in 15,000 fridges and 45,000 clothes washers being replaced by new efficient models, saving Washingtonians approximately $1,006,607 in energy costs, and preventing 8042 tons (16,083,192 lbs.) of CO2.
All Washington State households are eligible to receive one clothes washer and one refrigerator rebate. Consumers must buy their appliance from a Washington State retailer on or after March 15, 2010. Products that qualify for the rebate are ENERGY STAR® refrigerators and ultra high efficiency clothes washers (MEF 2.46 and WF 4).
Application forms and instructions will be available at retail locations or may be downloaded at www.cashforapplianceswa.com or on any Washington State utility website.
This project was supported by Grant No. DE-EE0001605 awarded by U.S. Department of Energy. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Energy. Grant funds are administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce Energy Policy Division.
