The State of West Virginia will implement a mail-in rebate program to help residents replace older, inefficient appliances with Energy Star® qualified appliances, according to the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) website.
The program is one of 56 state energy-efficient appliance rebate programs, known as Cash for Appliances, which are being set up in the U.S. and six U.S. territories with the help of federal stimulus money.
When Will WV's Program Begin?
West Virginia will begin its appliance rebate program a little later than some other states. Right now, the state's program is tentatively set to begin in June 2010 and will run through February 2012—or until the money runs out.
Rebates will range from $20 to $100, according the WV DEP. The state still needs to find a third party vendor to administer the program, says DEP.
What Is the Cash for Appliances Program?
Appliances account for about 17 percent of household energy consumption, with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Because of this, the DOE instituted the Cash for Appliances program to encourage consumers to upgrade from energy-hogging appliances to those that are energy efficient. The rebate program backed by more than $300 million in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and each state will mange its own program.
But the Cash for Appliances program is about more than energy savings. It's about money savings, too. The program helps consumers save money in two ways.
How Does the Appliance Rebate Program Save Money?
When consumers go shopping for appliances, they should think of two price tags, says the DOE. The first one covers the purchase price—think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. Consumers will pay on that second price tag every month with a utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on the appliance. Refrigerators last an average of 14 years; clothes washers about 11 years; dishwashers about 10 years; and room air conditioners last 9 years.
The rebate program will help residents replace older, inefficient appliances with energy-efficient appliances. The state will offer mail-in rebates toward the purchase of Energy Star-qualified appliances.
Eligible Appliances Appliances in WV Are:
- Dishwashers
- Refrigerators
- Freezers
- Clothes washers
- Room air conditioners
Consumers can increase rebate amounts for some appliances by purchasing models that are more efficient than the current Energy Star level.
Appliances must be purchased from participating retailers and proof of proper recycling of replaced appliances is required.
The state’s retailers, including Sears, Lowes, Alasky’s, and Best Buy, are waiting for word to begin their programs, according to an April 26, 2010, article in the Dominion Post, a Morgantown, WV, daily newspaper.
West Virginia will receive about $1.7 million of the nearly $300 million in stimulus funding available nationwide from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Information about WV Appliance Rebate Program
For more information on the Cash for Appliances program, visit the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Web site or call 866-568-6649 ext. 1111.
Kathy Jesperson - Kathy Jesperson is veteran journalist with more than 18 years’ experience. She has written about environmental health, water ...
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