March 30, 2010

“Great Appliance Swap Out” Extended to Meet Extraordinary Demand for Energy Efficient Appliances

Successful Program Has Spurred Huge Business for Retailers and Offered New Yorkers More than 52,000 Cash Rebates For Purchasing High Efficiency Appliances

To help meet the continued extraordinary demand for energy efficient appliances in response to “New York’s Great Appliance Swap Out”, the rebate program will be continued indefinitely until all available funds are allocated for rebates, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced today.

As of 2:30 pm Sunday, February 21, New Yorkers had applied for $7.1 million of rebates of as high as $555 for purchasing high efficiency refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dishwashers. At that time, $9.7 million remained to be claimed in this first-come, first-served program, according to www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com, which features a real-time counter of available funds.

The rebate program had been scheduled to end on Sunday, February 21. As of Saturday, New Yorkers had applied for rebates on 24,279 refrigerators, 1,996 freezers, 22,242 clothes washers, and 2,747 dishwashers since the program began on February 12.

“Because the “Appliance Swap Out” has been such a huge success, we’re extending the program to be absolutely sure everyone who is looking for new appliances can still get a great deal on purchases that could cut their energy costs by hundreds of dollars a year,” said Francis J. Murray, Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA.

“This program has brought record numbers of shoppers to the stores to learn about green appliances, and has helped make it more affordable for tens of thousands of New Yorkers to make the switch to high-efficiency appliances that will reduce our energy use and our impact on the environment,” Murray said.

New York was originally provided $16.8 million from the federal government for this program and all of the funding will be allocated to consumers before the end of the year.

The program requires consumers to replace old appliances, and encourages recycling by offering a larger rebate to consumers who recycle their discarded appliances. Funds are reserved for consumers who have purchased qualified appliances after they have submitted an application either online at www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com or through the toll-free hotline, 1-877- NY-SMART (877-697-6278). However, funds are not paid until after consumers mail in documentation of proof of purchase and, if applicable, recycling.

Once people enter their information online and receive an application number, the information is captured and the rebate is reserved. A confirmation and an application will be sent either by email or through the postal service.

Guidelines for the program can be found at www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com

Contact:
Colleen Ryan, NYSERDA
518-862-1090 3359; cell: 518-265-0075
cqr@nyserda.ny.gov