Appliance Rebate Program

Due to the time-sensitive nature of this post, we have chosen to postpone the second installment of “How Safe Is Your Safe” until later this week. Stay tuned!

If you are in the market for a new appliance, I have great news! The U.S. Department of Energy has allotted $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to be used by individual states toward the purchase of new ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. “Under this program, eligible consumers can receive rebates to purchase new energy-efficient appliances when they replace used appliances” (source: U. S. Department of Energy).

The program varies widely by state, so see the U. S. Department of Energy website for specifics. For instance, our state – Texas – begins the rebate reservation period next week:

The reservation period starts on April 5, 2010. The mail-in rebates will apply to eligible appliances purchased between April 16 and April 25, 2010. The 10-day period will coincide with Earth Day. Consumers will have 60 days from reservation date to install the appliance(s) and submit their paperwork for the rebate. (source: SECO)

Details vary by state, but in Texas, rebates are available for clothes washers and dryers, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, room air conditioners, central air conditioners and heat pumps, and hot water heaters – all of which must fall within specifications detailed in the following article: http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/arra/rebate/docs/SECO_ApplianceRebateFlyer_03_09_10.pdf. There is also a further credit for recycling old appliances, and possibly a city rebate over and above the state rebate being offered.

For instance, in Austin, TX, an example from a local appliance store, Wilson AC & Appliance, lists the Whirlpool Frontload Washer, sale priced at $619, as eligible for $180 state rebate plus an additional City of Austin rebate of $150, bringing the price down to $289 + tax! There is even a further rebate of $75 available for those who recycle their old appliances, bringing the price down to only $214 + tax!  This machine lists for $749 on the Whirlpool site.  That’s $535 in savings!

So take a few minutes to click on the sites listed above and see if you are eligible for a rebate. Not only will you be doing yourself a favor on the initial cost, but these appliances are designed to save you money on energy costs over the long term! It’s a win-win!

Hot Links For The Home Blog

Every week we come across articles that we think our readers might find interesting.

• Zillow is reporting here that the 30-year fixed mortgage is at 4.80%!
• In this article, entitled “The kitchen is still king”, Steve Kerch of MarketWatch talks about the trends in new homes today. It’s not surprising that #2 is: “Energy-efficient appliances, high-efficiency insulation and high window efficiency.”
  
• And on that note, read here about Low-E Argon windows, explained in a way that makes sense.
• Fortune magazine writer, Michael V. Copeland, has written an excellent article about the popularity of the LED bulbs in American households.  In the article he says, “By the end of the decade, analysts predict, LEDs will be the dominant source for commercial and residential lighting.” Click here to see the rest of the article.
• Finally, for some great tips on lowering your energy bills, click here.
  

So what do you think? Should we make this a weekly part of our blog?

 Loading ...

The Skinny On Energy Efficiency

Google's PowerMeter

When faced with building a new home, you may be surprised at the number of options available for lowering your energy consumption, and thus, your utility bills. However, some ideas are better than others, and a good rule of thumb, according to Bethany Jenkins, Vice-President of Jenkins Custom Homes, is to evaluate the product and choose those with a 2-4 year payback. One of the benefits of building a new home – as opposed to purchasing an existing – is the flexibility you have in design. Here are some of our favorite ways to control energy costs:

1. Start with a great design. Your home’s orientation on the lot, as well as the location of windows and doors, can take into consideration cross-ventilation and the direction of the sun in both winter and summer months.
   
2. Have a carefully planned “thermal envelope”. The thermal envelope is a technical term for the insulation in your home. Think of it like a thermos – the quality of the insulation is what determines how hot or cold your liquid inside remains. The same is true of your home. Putting your money into a high-density foam insulation and highly efficient windows will keep your home warmer or cooler, therefore reducing the number of times the A/C or heater has to cycle on and off.
   
3. Require high-performance mechanical systems (heating and cooling systems, hot water heaters), as well as appliances.
   
4. Employee technology when cost-effective (occupancy sensors for lights, A/C & heater, for instance).
5. Carefully placed trees can shade your house from cold winds or the summer heat, and drought resistant landscaping will lower your water usage.  A good landscape architect can design your green space with eye toward lowering your energy costs.