Replace Old Clunkers with the "Cash for Appliances" Program

Surprisingly, several states still have cash available for this popular economic stimulus program.

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Photo: Courtesy of Mindy Pennybacker

By Dan Shapley

The "Cash for Appliances" program, which took that unofficial name from the "Cash for Clunkers" program, shared with its namesake several features. It was a federal program designed to stimulate the economy and promote energy efficiency, and it was so wildly popular that the funding dried up within days.

Or so we thought.

While most states did exhaust their funds within days, more than 20 states and territories are still taking applications, in some cases because not everyone who initially applied actually qualified. In other cases, states exhausted Phase 1 funding for appliances like refrigerators, clothes washes and dishwashers, but have recently rolled out Phase 2 programs for appliances like gas furnaces, boilers and water heaters.

Replacing inefficient old appliances with new Energy Star appliances is one of the best improvements you can make for your home. New appliances rated to Energy Star-standards will use 10-30% less energy than comparable models on the market (and far less than the years-old clunkers still in use in many homes). The problem, of course, is that these purchases tend to be expensive. Initiatives like the "Cash for Appliances" program make the process more palatable by subsidizing the cost of the purchase, usually through a rebate or tax credit (specific incentives vary by state).

To find out if your state is still accepting applications, visit energysavers.gov. To search for incentives for others types of energy efficiency and alternative energy home projects, check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at dsireusa.org.

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