September 29, 2010

"New York's Great Appliance Swap Out" has $4.8 Million in Rebates Available for Energy Efficient Appliances

Nearly $5 million in rebates is available for New Yorkers who purchase energy efficient appliances through "New York's Great Appliance Swap Out", a program that this year has provided $11.2 million in rebates to more than 114,000 New Yorkers, according to officials from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Although NYSERDA had announced in June that the federal funds allocated to New York had been fully reserved, $4.8 million has since been made available because approximately 25,000 individuals did not submit an application or documentation required to verify their eligibility following their purchase. The available funding, which will provide rebates of as much as $555 for purchasing three appliances, will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Consumers who reserved funds but have not completed the application process have been or are in the process of being notified that their application is incomplete. These individuals are still eligible to receive a rebate if they submit the required documentation. Moving forward, New Yorkers reserving rebates will have 14 days from the time they reserve their rebate to mail in completed applications. The rebates are available to New York State residents replacing old appliances with ENERGY STAR® appliances that will be installed at a New York State residential address. Supported by federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the program helps consumers save money on energy costs by reducing their energy usage, and has provided a needed boost to retailers across New York.

Rebates for high-efficiency refrigerators, clothes washers, and freezers range from $50-$105 for a single unit and up to $555 for the purchase of a three-appliance package of high-efficiency refrigerators, clothes washers, and dishwashers, provided on a first-come, first served basis. The program requires consumers to replace old appliances, and encourages recycling by offering a larger rebate to consumers who recycle their discarded appliances.

President and CEO of NYSERDA Francis J. Murray said: “This program has helped encourage tens of thousands of New Yorkers to purchase energy-efficient appliances that will save them money and cut their energy use. We are grateful to our federal delegation for securing these stimulus funds, which have benefited retailers across New York State, and we look forward to distributing all of New York's allocation to help continue boosting the economy.”

For consumer guidelines on this program, go to www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com or call 877-NY-SMART.

Program Specifics

How Much You Can Receive:

Customers purchasing appliances may receive the following individual rebates:

• Refrigerators: $75 ($105 with documented recycling)
• Clothes washers: $75 ($100 with documented recycling)
• Freezers: $50 ($75 with documented recycling)
• Dishwashers: Rebates are only available for dishwashers when purchased as part of a three appliance package of CEE-rated appliances. This bundled purchase will qualify for a $500 rebate ($555 with documented recycling).

What Are the Energy Efficiency Requirements?

• Individual purchases: Appliances must have 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 appliances that meet CEE standards. This can include a dishwasher, clothes washer, and refrigerator.

For consumer guidelines on this program, go to www.NYApplianceSwapOut.com or call 877-NY-SMART. Remember you need to submit all required rebate documentation in a timely manner in order to receive your rebate.

Where do you find these appliances?

Appliances may be purchased at any location. NYSERDA works with more than 1,000 of retail partners to help promote the sale of ENERGY STAR Products. A list of these retail partners is attached.

NYSERDA also offers homeowners potential energy savings through "Home Performance with ENERGY STAR" a program which offers home performance audits and financing for energy efficiency improvements. This program has helped more than 27,000 New Yorkers significantly cut their energy usage. More information about these and other energy-savings programs can be found on NYSERDA's web site at NYSERDA.ny.gov or from NYSERDA's consumer hotline at: 877-NY-SMART.

Contact:

Jeffrey Gordon, NYSERDA
518-862-1090, ext. 3544
jrg@nyserda.ny.gov