Celebrate Earth Day With Some Extra Green

Cash Rebates and Tax Credits for Your Old Appliances

Did you know that your appliances and home electronics like your washer and dryer and computer are responsible for about 20% of your energy bill each month? Replacing old appliances and equipment with those that are ENERGY STAR labeled can help you save significantly on your utility bills and receive cash rebates and tax credits from the government.

You may be eligible to receive a cash rebate from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Under this program, eligible consumers can receive rebates to purchase new energy-efficient appliances when they replace used appliances.
Each state and U.S. territory designed its own rebate program, and all 56 plans have been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Some states have launched their programs and have run out of funds already. However several states have scheduled a start date of April 22 to coincide with Earth Day.

Eligible consumers can also combine a state rebate with the federal tax credit for the same product, as long as the purchase qualifies under the rules of both programs and is not specifically excluded. Consumers may also be able to combine the state rebate with a local utility rebate, but eligibility should be verified with both organizations.

To learn more about ENERGY STAR cash rebates, visit your state's appliance rebate Web site for rebate forms and instructions.

For more information on additional incentives and rebates, please see the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.