If you missed the government's Cash for Clunkers rebate program, you still have a chance to participate in the appliance rebate program that can help homeowners with some cash back this year.

The Energy Star Appliance Rebate program, passed last February as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. How it works is that it will give rebates to consumers who replace certain home appliances with energy-efficient models. The new program underscores the Obama Administration’s commitment to make American homes more energy efficient, while helping to support the nation’s economic recovery

This Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program began Jan. 1 and the U.S. Government has set aside $300 million for the appliance rebate program.Each state has their own appliance rebates programs and the authority to handle most of the details separately.  It provides rebates for qualifying energy-efficient appliances.select ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. These appliances may include:

  • central air conditioners
  • heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
  • boilers
  • furnaces (oil and gas)
  • room air conditioners
  • clothes washers
  • dishwashers
  • refrigerators/freezers
  • water heaters

The U.S. Government has given each State the authority to develop their own government appliance rebate program using the government’s guidelines. Individual states can decide the amounts of the appliance rebates up to $200 (reported) per selected appliance that is Energy Star qualified. Each state develops it’s own rebate program and may choose which appliances to include as long as it is on the list of approved Energy Star appliances that the U.S. Government listed. States will receive formula-based funding in order to start or continue an already established ENERGY STAR appliance rebate program