Out With the Old, In With the New

The New York State Great Appliance Swap Out is a very short-lived, limited-amount opportunity for New Yorkers to obtain cash rebates for purchasing qualified energy efficient appliances to replace older models. Bulk purchases and documented recycling elicit higher dollar amounts.

Similar in nature to the recent, highly successful Cash for Clunkers program, the state's Great Appliance Swap Out makes use of federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help consumers save money on energy costs by reducing their energy usage, while also hoping to provide a needed boost to the economy.

Also like its counterpart, the program is being offered for a limited time — in this case for just 10 days through Feb. 21 — and with limited funding, on a first-come, first served basis. 

The closest participating location to Port Washington is the P.C. Richard & Son on Northern Boulevard in Greenvale.

"We're matching their rebate, plus 10 percent off all appliances," said P.C. Richard sales counselor Dennis Spano.

He said the store has been more crowded this week and it's obvious why. "They're aware of these energy rebates," Spano said. "More people have come in since the program begun. New York State has more than $16 million allotted for this so it's on a first-come, first served basis."

Statewide, a total of $16.8 million is being made available in rebates to consumers who replace old appliances with high-efficiency ones — refrigerators, clothes washers and freezers — ranging from $50 to $105 for a single item purchase and up to $555 for a three-appliance package purchase of high-efficiency appliances, in which dishwashers may be included. The program also encourages recycling by offering larger rebates to consumers who document the recycling of appliances they discard.

Governor David Paterson announced the initiative on Thursday, Feb. 12. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will administer the program.

Considering that appliances account for about 17 percent of your household's energy consumption, with refrigerators, clothes washers, and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the rebates appropriately target these very items.

Eligible Appliances

• Refrigerator: $75 ($105 with documented recycling)
• Freezer: $50 ($75 with documented recycling)
• Clothes washer: $75 ($100 with documented recycling)
• Dishwasher: Rebates are only available for dishwashers when purchased as part of a three-appliance package of CEE-rated appliances.
• Bundled three-appliance purchases: $500 rebate ($555 with documented recycling) applicable to appliances meeting Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) standards

Energy Efficiency Requirements

• Individual purchases: Appliances with the Energy Star label, meaning that they are up to 30 percent more efficient than standard models on the market.
• Bundled purchases: A larger rebate will be paid to consumers purchasing three energy efficient appliances.

Energy Star ratings are awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency. They were established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy; and to make it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features and comfort, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

"This program will provide a tremendous incentive for consumers all across New York to reduce their energy consumption while providing an important stimulus to our economy, and helping to meet the state's '45 by 15' clean energy goal," Governor Paterson said. He set the State's '45 by 15' clean energy goal in 2009, challenging the state to meet 45 percent of its electricity needs by 2015 through increased energy efficiency and renewable energy.

"New Yorkers have an unprecedented opportunity to save money on energy efficient appliances that could save them hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs," said President and CEO of NYSERDA Francis J. Murray. "I encourage New Yorkers to take advantage of this opportunity and to help New York achieve the ambitious energy efficiency goals that Governor Paterson has set for us."

Additional information is available at the state's Appliance Swap Out Web site or by calling NYSERDA's consumer hotline at 877-NY-SMART.