State appliance rebate program pushes all the right buttons
Maine is using $1.26 million in federal funds to reward those who buy Energy Star-rated items.
By ANN S. KIM, Staff Writer
November 1, 2009
Darrell and Martha Johnston of South Portland look over a selection of washers and dryers at Agren Appliance and Televison on Foden Road in South Portland last week. Appliance shoppers can now take advantage of a rebate program for consumers buying energy-efficient products.
John Ewing/Staff Photographer
FOR MORE information about the appliance rebate program and Energy Star qualified appliances, go to:
More customers are coming through the door at Agren Appliance and Television since a state rebate program went into effect at the start of October.
"We're always steady here, but we're seeing an increase," said Jamison Leavitt, the manager of the South Portland store. "About two and a half weeks ago, we started seeing a lot of interest."
Like "cash for clunkers," the program aims to replace less-efficient models and boost sales in the recession.
However, unlike the popular car trade-in program, the appliance program does not require customers to trade in their older models for those with the Energy Star designation, which use 10 percent to 50 percent less energy and water than standard ones.
Sales figures are not yet available, but anecdotal information from dealers indicates the rebate program may be helping sales. The rebates are administered through Efficiency Maine, a program of the Maine Utilities Commission.
Maine received $1.26 million in federal stimulus money for the rebate program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided the states a total of $300 million and allowed them flexibility in how they administer the program.
Some Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative funds were used to get the program going before the stimulus money became available. PUC spokeswoman Evelyn deFrees did not immediately have figures available on how much money from the carbon cap-and-trade program was being used.
The state program requires purchasers to be Maine residents. Consumers get rebates of $25 for air conditioners, dehumidifiers and refrigerators of less than 7.5 cubic feet, $50 for washing machines and $75 for larger refrigerators and freezers.
The program is expected to run through June.
Agren Appliance customers have been interested especially in refrigerators and washing machines, Leavitt said. There's still some confusion about how the program works, so some are a bit wary, he said.
The business has been promoting the rebate program, explaining that trade-ins are not required and that rebate forms are supplied upon delivery.
Gediman's Appliance in Bath and Lewiston has also experienced a difference since the program started. Owner Peter Gediman said that while the rebates haven't resulted in a flood of customers, the program is definitely getting people out.
Some have clearly been holding out for the state rebates, he said, which makes for an even more enticing deal when coupled with incentives manufacturers have been offering.
"It's definitely giving people an incentive to buy energy-efficient," he said.
While an Energy Star appliance may cost more initially, the energy savings can make up for the difference in the first few years, said Glen Brand, director of the Sierra Club National Cool Cities Campaign.
"Better-made products cost more and last longer, but in this case they also reduce energy costs over time. There is the just-as-important benefit of reducing global-warming emissions, which is harder to quantify but very real," he said.
New technologies for washing machines, for example, mean that Energy Star versions save an average of $50 on annual utility bills, according to the program. Most Energy Star versions do not have a central agitator, so clothes are not subjected to as much wear and tear during washing.
Refrigerators have also become much more efficient over time. A model made before 1993 costs twice as much to operate as an energy-efficient model, and a refrigerator from the 1970s uses four times as much energy.
Staff Writer Ann S. Kim can be contacted at 791-6383 or at:
akim@pressherald.com