Story by Leslie Huffman | March 9, 2010 | Tags: apex, cary, Earth Day, Environment, Morrisville, North Carolina
Cary, NC – Start planning: North Carolinians will be able to save on major appliance purchases while putting $8.8 million in federal recovery funds to work stimulating the economy, cutting energy use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
On Earth Day weekend, Thursday April 22nd, through Sunday April 25th, rebates will be offered on qualified Energy Star clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers.
Individuals replacing an old appliance with a new Energy Star-rated appliance will receive an instant 15% rebate in addition to any store or manufacturer discounts. People may receive more than one rebate if they buy different appliances.
The N.C. Energy Office is working with the N.C. Retail Merchants Association and expects major retail chains as well as most independent appliance dealers to participate in the rebate program.
SHOP LOCAL
Whether you live in Cary, Apex or Morrisville, you can buy an Energy Star compliant appliance close to home.
We’ve generated a Google Map of Cary Area Appliance stores. It’s not totally comprehensive, but still pretty helpful to jog the memory about where you can shop close to home. Mouse over the red dots on the map to see the stores.
WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?
North Carolina is receiving $8.8 million in federal funds to help homeowners purchase energy-efficient appliances, from furnaces and room air conditioners to refrigerators and dishwashers. The funds are part of nearly $300 million from the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act being distributed nationwide by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Depending on available funds, instant rebates will be 15 % on Energy Star-rated refrigerators, freezers, clothes washing machines and dishwashers. In addition, a second phase in June will offer rebates on Energy Star residential gas storage water heaters, tankless gas water heaters, central air conditioners, heat pumps and gas furnaces that replace older items.
These rebates will be mail-ins and can be used with purchase through retailers, contractors or programs offered through utilities. The planned amounts of those rebates are $200 for water heaters and $300 for central air conditioners, gas furnaces, and air-source heat pumps.
HOW MUCH ENERGY WILL BE SAVED?
The energy savings can be significant. A new Energy Star-rated refrigerator uses half the electricity that the same size refrigerator built before 1995 uses.
It is estimated that with this rebate program, just under 50,000 conventional appliances will be replaced with Energy Star-rated appliances. Enough electricity will be saved with these more efficient appliances to power 536 homes for a year. Natural gas savings would serve 390 homes for a year.
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This week’s CaryCitizen news is sponsored by FrantzForHouse.org.
Lindsey Chester
March 11, 2010 at 9:45 am
But what about all the waste from throwing out those 50,000 appliances? those hit the landfills.
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