The State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, more commonly called the "cash for appliances" program was a United States federal program to encourage homeowners to trade inefficient appliances for Energy Star certified replacements. It is frequently compared to the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), colloquially known as "Cash for Clunkers," which was a 2009 federal program to encourage replacing cars with low fuel efficiency. Just as the (CARS) relied upon the Environmental Protection Agency's fuel economy ratings to determine which new automobiles should be eligible for a cash incentive, this program relied upon EPA's Energy Star standards to identify new home appliances that were eligible for a cash incentive.
Backed by an initial $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the state-run rebate program was intended to help make American homes more energy-efficient while further stimulating the economy.[1] The states had until October 15, 2009 to submit their applications for funding and plans for recycling old appliances to the Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE then started to distribute funds to the individual states. The DOE recommended that states consider the following Energy Star qualified appliances:
- Boilers
- Central air conditioners
- Clothes washers
- Dishwashers
- Freezers
- Furnaces (oil and gas)
- Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
- Refrigerators
- Room air conditioners
- Water heaters.[2]
Two early states to implement the program were Illinois, which received $12.4 million, and Iowa, which received $2.8 million.[3]
The program was officially closed in all US states and territories on Friday, February 17, 2012.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Boyle, Matthew (August 21, 2009). "Latest in Stimulus: 'Cash for Refrigerators'". Businessweek. Archived from the original on 2010-01-16. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ^ "State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Program". Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ^ Nevel, Jason (January 4, 2010). "Cash for appliances to kick off in Illinois, Iowa to follow". Clinton Herald. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ^ "State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program is Closed". Energy.gov. US Department of Energy. 23 February 2012.