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Delaware announces 10,000th appliance rebate
Posted on 28. Jun, 2010 by GMS Editor in Featured, Newsflash, ShowOnLatestPanel
Gov. Jack Markell and state Sen. Harris McDowell III, co-chair of the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), announced this week that the SEU’s Energize Delaware had issued its 10,000th appliance rebate as part of its popular Energy Star Appliance Rebate Program.
Launched last September and designed to provide Delawareans money-back incentives for upgrading to new, high-efficiency household appliances, the program has provided nearly 10,200 rebates, saved more than $225,000 per year in energy-related costs, more than 1.2 million kilowatts of electricity and more than 16,500 therms of natural gas per year, officials said.
Delaware was the first state in the nation to deploy an appliance rebate program using federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. Having the non-profit Sustainable Energy Utility in place helped make the state’s leadership possible and move the appliance rebate money more quickly than most other states, officials noted.
In making the announcement, Markell stated, “This program demonstrates that people can cut their energy use without sacrificing modern conveniences. Delawareans save money and energy, reducing our collective demand on resources and helping us better protect the environment while spurring the economy. When people purchase new, more efficient appliances, it puts people to work to make and sell the appliances, generating economic benefits on many levels.”
“This important milestone in our Appliance Rebate Program is a testament to Delawareans’ commitment to saving energy and money, creating jobs and protecting the environment,” said McDowell “We’ve made important progress, but our job is far from finished and the SEU’s Energize Delaware is determined to provide the energy-efficiency resources and support residents and businesses need.”
In remarking on the milestone, Secretary Collin O’Mara of the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control said, “Delaware has a long tradition of being at the forefront of innovation and is again setting a national example for empowering and engaging residents in fostering a sustainable energy future.
In an effort to become more energy efficient, Mary Conrad of Dover took advantage of the rebate offering when she recently purchased a dishwasher as part of a remodeling project in her kitchen. Conrad’s appliance purchase helped the program pass the 10,000th rebate milestone.
“I have been trying to be more conservative when it comes to energy use and to have less of a footprint on the earth all around,” Conrad said. “When I decided to redo my kitchen, I realized it was time to replace my 22-year-old dishwasher that wasn’t working as well it should. I was shopping around for prices and models, and a dealer had a sign about the rebates, and the model I decided to buy qualified for one.”
Conrad indicated that the money-back offer was an added incentive she needed to invest in a long-term energy-saving solution. When she is ready to make a future appliance purchase, she said she will be on the lookout for energy-efficient models that carry the Energy Star label.
“If every individual tries to do that, we can reduce our damage to the earth,” she added. “People looking for ways to become more energy efficient should take advantage of these rebates. And if you can save more money in this economy, it’s to your benefit.”
In recognition of the program’s 10,000th rebate, American Express, which issues the prepaid rebate cards to program participants, provided Conrad with a $100 American Express Gift Card.
Per capita, Delaware uses more energy than its neighbors and pays more for it. The average household spends about $2,200 on energy bills each year, but energy efficiency practices and Energy Star products can save a resident up to $700 a year on their energy bills.
These newer appliances use 10 to 50 percent less energy than standard, energy-sapping models and over time they more than cover the cost of the upgrade.
Through the Appliance Rebate Program, residents can download and submit rebate forms to receive up to $200 back on clothes washers, water heaters, room air conditioners and dishwashers. The program is scheduled to run until Aug. 31.
