Federal cash-for-appliances program hits Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Buying the latest high-tech appliances can be fun for some people. Getting money back for buying the latest high-tech appliances is something that could add a little more enjoyment to the buying experience.

A federally funded program to encourage energy conservation has gotten at least a few people making upgrades to their appliance portfolio.

Take Murray resident Virginia Golding, who is in the process of remodeling the laundry room in her home. She bought a new front-loading, high-efficiency clothes washing machine to replace her old top-loading machine.

"It's going to be easier on my clothes," Golding said. "It's going to save me money (and) it's also going to get me a rebate back from (Questar), plus … I get the stimulus rebate, too."

Under the U.S. Department of Energy-approved "Cash for Appliances Utah" rebate plan, residents are eligible for $2.6 million in rebates of $30 to $300. In order to qualify, residents must recycle and replace their old appliances with new, Energy Star-qualified models on or after May 12.

Eligible appliances include clothes washing machines ($75), room air conditioners ($30), gas storage water heaters ($50), gas tankless water heaters ($300) and gas furnaces ($300). Excluded from the list are staple appliances for which other states offered rebates, including dishwashers, freezers and refrigerators.

As the only retailer to partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Sears is offering recycling through its Responsible Appliance Disposal program, according to a news release. For a $10 fee, the retailer will remove customers' old appliances and dispose of them in an environmentally responsible manner, said Kate Stevenson, Sears Brand Central manager.

"With the new appliances, you're going to end up saving about 40 percent in water for a washer and (38 percent in energy usage) for a room air conditioner … because they turn themselves on and off at peak times," she said. "So you won't have a huge electric bill. It doesn't suck out all that energy."

Stevenson said new efficient washers would save about 12,000 gallons of water annually for the typical household. She also noted that Rocky Mountain Power and Questar each offer their own rebates, making purchasing the new appliances even more economically attractive.

Administered through the State Energy Program, rebates will be awarded until the funds run out.

Rebates are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are some rules, such as the appliance having to be purchased for a primary residence, that have to be met.

Visit www.cashforappliancesutah.com/ for more information. Consumers can also search for products by efficiency rating at www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_find_es_products.

e-mail: jlee@desnews.com