Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

Most Recent Updates

Program Details

State Energy Office Contact List

July 14, 2009: DOE releases funding opportunity announcement (DE-FOA-000119) for the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

August 15, 2009: Initial application due date for State Energy offices

October 15, 2009: Comprehensive application due date for State Energy offices

Program Guide for AHAM Members

The final stimulus bill includes $300 million for the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. The funding must be spent “for expenses necessary to implement the program authorized under section 124 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15821) and the Energy Star program.”

The program would provide rebates to replace used appliances with more energy efficient ENERGY STAR products.  A State energy office would receive funding once it has established an appliance rebate program.

This program would have the dual impact of reducing home energy usage while incentivizing consumer spending for manufactured products.  Further, the added savings that consumers would obtain through lower utility bills would stimulate additional spending in the economy.

Background

A consumer rebate program for energy efficient home appliances will result in dramatic savings for consumers and save energy.  If every household in the US upgraded to ENERGY STAR appliances, residents would save more than $10 billion in utility costs per year.  The consumer rebate would provide an incentive for consumers to replace non‐ ENERGY STAR appliances with ENERGY STAR appliances, such as refrigerator‐freezers, dishwashers, and clothes washers.  This rebate, coupled with the lifetime energy savings, would more than pay for the total investment in the new appliances.  The rebate would provide an important benefit to the environment through energy savings.  By replacing appliances with ENERGY STAR appliances, the US would save more than 82 billion kWh per year.

The energy savings and climate benefits are significant from an Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate program.  It is a practical, effective public policy measure at this time.  Retiring older, less efficient appliances with ENERGY STAR products is the single, most cost effective step a consumer can take to save money and energy.

Additional Resources

DOE Energy Savers website on appliance rebates

Energy Policy Act of 2005 (PL 109-58), Section 124

ENERGY STAR Guide to Residential Appliance Programs - This document provides an overview of the efficiency programs currently offered by utilities and other Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS) for qualified ENERGY STAR products.

Essential Principles - AHAM's essential principles to the Rebate Program.