Cash back: Get a discount on Energy Star appliances
Posted
Jun 23 2009, 02:34 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Energy Star appliances would probably be a lot more popular if they weren't so expensive. These energy-efficient appliances generally cost more than their non-Energy Star counterparts. Someone has to pay for the R&D.
If the promise of energy savings isn't enough to outweigh the sticker shock, a post at Wallet Blog says you can find rebates and other incentives to make the purchase more affordable. (Wish we'd known that before we bought a new washer last year.)
But what exactly does the Energy Star label mean?
Energy Star is a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, and is voluntary for the manufacturers of about 50 product categories -- things like TVs, refrigerators, computers, roofing materials, and heating and cooling systems. Energy Star products are more energy-efficient than the minimum federal standards. How much so depends on the product type.
We're on board with this. Who doesn't want to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, which is the goal of the program? Proponents say the higher upfront cost for many products carrying the Energy Star symbol will be recouped through bigger savings on your utility bill.
But, like anything else in life, the program is not perfect. For instance, according to Consumer Reports last year:
- The manufacturer -- not the EPA -- measures the appliances' energy consumption. It's not independently verified. The EPA depends on competitors to report manufacturers that cheat, which is not very effective.
- The testing procedures are outdated or have other problems. For instance, refrigerators are tested with their icemakers turned off. How much sense does that make? The EPA says it's revising its tests.
- It takes six years for new rules submitted by DOE to take effect. Why so glacial?
Note: The EPA, in a letter to Consumer Reports, says it spot-checks products, and otherwise disputed some of CR's conclusions. You can read CR's response here (.pdf file).
What's a consumer to do? Don't rely solely on the Energy Star label when making a purchase. One source is the highly regarded Consumer Reports, which rates products and publishes reviews. (A subscription is required.) Also, learn how to read the EnergyGuide label you'll find on many appliances. CR tells you how.
If you've picked out an Energy Star appliance, look for rebates and other ways to reduce the cost at the Energy Star Web site. Wallet Blog's Lynn B. Johnson did so and described some of the bargains:
Turns out, I could earn: a $300 rebate on a qualifying tankless, on-demand water heater; $500 cash back on five select KitchenAid brand appliances (less cash back for fewer appliances); Visa prepaid cards for purchasing Bosch or GE appliances; plus instant discounts on CFL bulbs, with rebates based on the CFL package.
If you can't afford a new appliance, maintain your old one for maximum energy efficiency. That includes regularly changing the filter on your furnace (we do it monthly in winter), and cleaning your dryer's lint trap after each use. For refrigerator maintenance, read this post at FIRE Finance.
And for general information about electricity use in your home and how to monitor it, we recommend Michael Bluejay's Saving Electricity.
Related reading:
‘Green' tax credits you may not know about
Real deal: Save money saving the planet
10 easy ways to ‘green' your house
13 easy, inexpensive ways to go green
