The federal government is padding appliance rebates for energy efficient dishwashers, refrigerators, and room A/C’s as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Each state has their own program, rules, and rebate forms. In general you have to do three things to get a federal appliance rebate, which comes in addition to any state, retailer, or manufacturer rebates that may be available.

1. Buy an eligible appliance in a store during the eligible period. Online purchases are not valid.

2. Recycle your old appliance with a certified recycler.

3. Fill out and mail in the rebate form.

Start by finding your state’s appliance rebate program. In California, the appliance rebate program begins today with discounts from $50-$200 per appliance. It runs until May 23, 2010 but the rebate funds may run out before then so turn in your rebate form sooner rather than later.

Some interesting factoids about energy from the California rebate page:

• New Energy Star refrigerators cost as little as $48 to run a year. In the 1970s, the average refrigerator sucked up $259 in electricity every year.
• New fridges are a lot quieter and don’t create as much heat.
• Energy efficient washers spin clothes 2-3 times faster than older models, which means your dryer does not have to work as hard to dry the clothes!
• If your washer is more than 10 years old, you can save about $135 a year in energy costs.
• In the 1970s it cost about $195 to run your washer for a year. Today’s most energy efficient washers need only $47 in electricity.

If you have an older fridge, washer, or room A/C, check which rebates are available in your state and see how much you could save in electricity costs. You may well break even in just a year or two.

If a new appliance costs you $500, but you get $250 back in rebates and save $50 in energy per year, you will get your $250 investment back in five years.

(appliance cost – rebates) / yearly energy savings = years it will take you to break even

Thanks, Sarah!