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2011 Rebates Update: Heating & Cooling

GMS Editor — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:14:29 +0000

Home Heating & Cooling Equipment

What are the incentives for home heating & cooling equipment?

Please note that these incentives have changed as of February 17, 2009. If you installed home envelope components between January 1 and February 16, 2009, click here.

Purchasers of highly efficient heating, cooling, and water heating equipment can take tax credits of 30% of installed cost for purchasing qualifying equipment, as detailed below. These credits are available for systems placed in service from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010. There is a $1,500 cap on the credit per home, including the amount received for insulation, windows, air and duct sealing.

Congress extended this provision for 2011 with some modifications to eligibility requirements, and reductions in the cap to $500 per home. The $500 limit applies to heating and cooling equipment and to building envelope improvements, and applies to all years – if you received a credit in 2009 of $500 or more, you cannot receive it again in 2011. In addition, there are some instances where there is a cap on a specific product, see equipment descriptions’ links below for details.

I don’t think I qualify for this incentive – where can I find information on state-level incentives?

What types of equipment qualify?

Where must the equipment be used?

Under guidance issued by the IRS, equipment is eligible if installed in a home occupied by a taxpayer as their principal residence at the time the equipment is installed. This implies that equipment in new homes is generally not eligible since in new homes equipment is generally installed prior to occupancy. However, efficient equipment in new homes can help that home qualify for the new home tax credit.
What do I need to do to qualify for the incentives?

Under the IRS rules, manufacturers need to certify that specific measures are eligible. Homeowners should obtain a copy of this certification when buying these products from the manufacturer, contractor or retailer. Certifications need not be submitted to the IRS, but should be kept on file in case the IRS has questions. Homeowners should also make notes on when each eligible measure is installed- only measures “placed in service” in 2009 or 2010 are eligible.

Click here to access IRS guidance on qualifying energy-efficient property.

I don’t think I qualify for the incentive – where can I find information on state-level incentives?

To apply for the incentive, use IRS form 5695.

Learn more, including details about qualifying products, at The Tax Incentives Assistance Project.

2011 Rebates Update: Solar

GMS Editor — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:25:21 +0000

Solar Energy Systems

What are the tax incentives for solar systems?

Homeowners are eligible for tax credits for qualified solar water heating and photovoltaic systems. Solar water heating systems produce hot water, photovoltaic systems produce electricity (including solar fans). The credits are available for systems “placed in service” at any dwelling unit, not necessarily the primary residence, between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2016.

Note: This is a basic guide to the credit. For more detailed information, go to www.seia.org and download SEIA’s FAQs regarding the new legislation.

Who is eligible for the tax incentives?

The tax credits go to businesses that install solar equipment for their use, and to individuals who install qualifying systems on homes they use as a residence (unlike other consumer incentives, the dwelling does not have to be the taxpayer’s primary residence – second homes are eligible, although rental properties are not).

How do the incentives work?

The tax credits are for 30% of the cost of the system. For systems installed before January 1st, 2009, the maximum credit for individuals is $2000 for photovoltaic systems and $2000 for solar water heating systems. Systems installed after December 31, 2008 are not subject to a cap. To qualify, residential systems must meet certain criteria as follows:

* Solar water heating:

System must be certified for performance by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the state government in which the system is located. SRCC is an organization set up by the solar industry to test and certify equipment so purchasers have an independent assessment of system performance.
At least half of the energy used by the system to heat the water must be solar energy. The credit is not available for expenses for swimming pools or hot tubs.

* Photovoltaic systems:

System must provide electricity for the residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirements.
This includes solar fans (the credit will cover the solar panel portion of the fan system).

What do I have to do to qualify for these incentives?

To qualify, tax payers will need to have evidence regarding:

the cost of the system (including labor and piping or wiring to connect the system to a home’s plumbing and/or electrical systems),
when it was placed in service,
whether the system meets the qualifying criteria discussed above.

For taxpayers installing solar PV or water heating systems at their residence, use the Residential Energy Efficient Property Form 5695.

Learn more at The Tax Incentives Assistance Project.

2011 Rebates Update: Wind & Geothermal Systems

GMS Editor — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:51:04 +0000

Small Wind Systems

What are the tax incentives for on-site wind systems?

On October 3, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, H.R. 1424, was enacted into law and includes a new federal-level investment tax credit to help consumers purchase small wind turbines for home, farm, or business use. Owners of small wind systems with 100 kilowatts (kW) of capacity and less can receive a credit for 30% of the total installed cost of the system. The credit will be available for equipment installed through December 31, 2016. This legislation marks the first federal incentive for small wind systems since 1985. The incentive was further expanded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009, which removed the financial cap that had been present in the 2008 legislation..

Who is eligible for the tax incentives?

Home-owners, farmers, and businesses that install wind turbines with not more than 100 kilowatts of nameplate capacity are eligible for the incentive.

What do I have to do to qualify for these incentives?

To qualify, tax payers will need to have evidence regarding:

the cost of the system,
when it was placed in service,
whether the system meets the qualifying criteria discussed above.

Taxpayers installing on-site wind systems at their residence should use the IRS Residential Energy Efficient Property Form 5695.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

What are the tax incentives for geothermal heat pumps?

As part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, an incentive was added for geothermal heat pump property. The incentive for businesses is available from Oct. 3, 2008 through December 31, 2016, and for residential installations the incentive is available for units placed in service starting January 1, 2008 until December 31, 2016. Qualified geothermal heat pump property refers to any equipment which uses the ground or ground water as a thermal energy source to heat the taxpayer’s residence, or as a thermal energy sink to cool the residence. The unit must meet the requirements of the Energy Star program which are in effect when the heat pump is purchased.

The residential incentive covers 30% of the expenditures in the year the incentive is taken, up to a cap of $2,000 if the property was installed prior to January 1, 2009. Qualifying geothermal heat pump property installed after December 31, 2008 is eligible for 30% of the installed cost without a cap, as provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. The incentive is available for taxpayers installing qualifying equipment at their primary residence or a second home, but not for a rental property.

What do I have to do to qualify for these incentives?

To qualify, tax payers will need to have evidence regarding:

the cost of the system,
when it was placed in service,
whether the system meets the qualifying criteria discussed above.

Taxpayers installing geothermal heat pump systems at their residence should use IRS Form 5695 for the Residential Energy Efficient Property incentive.

Learn more at The Tax Incentives Assistance Project.

2011 Rebates Update: Fuel Cells

GMS Editor — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:16:51 +0000

What are the tax incentives for fuel cells?

These incentives are tax credits for two advanced distributed generation technologies: qualifying fuel cell and microturbine systems. Fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical process. They are somewhat similar to batteries, except fuel must be fed continuously to them. Microturbines are small power generation systems using a gas turbine engine, based on related turbines used in transportation. The credits are available for systems “placed in service” prior to December 31, 2016.

Who is eligible for the tax incentives?

Individuals are only eligible for the fuel cell tax incentive, while businesses can also apply for an incentive for microturbines.

What are the incentives and how do they work?

For fuel cells:

Credits are for 30% of the cost, up to $1000 per kW of power that can be produced.
To qualify systems must have an efficiency of at least 30% and must have a capacity of at least 0.5 kW.

* This incentive is permissible against the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).

What do I have to do to qualify for these incentives?

To qualify, taxpayers will probably need to have evidence regarding:

The cost of the system (this includes the power generation system itself and “associated balance of plant components, including, in the case of microturbines, “secondary components located between the existing infrastructure for fuel delivery and the existing infrastructure for power distribution”),
The capacity of the system,
The efficiency of the system, and
When it was placed in service.

Learn more at The Tax Incentives Assistance Project.

Cash for Caulkers: The Definitive Guide

GMS Editor — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:10:52 +0000

6/11/2010
By: Houston Neal
Director of Marketing, Software Advice

“Cash for Caulkers” is nearly here. Last month the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5019 – also known as the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 or “Cash for Caulkers” – to kick-start construction, create jobs and cut back carbon emissions. While the bill still needs to clear the Senate, supporters predict it will pass this summer.

This is great news for homeowners and contractors alike. The bill provisions $6 billion for energy-efficient or “green” retrofits. It is expected to fund renovations for 3 million families, create 168,000 new jobs and save consumers $9.2 billion on energy bills over the next 10 years.

But in order to cash in on upcoming rebates, homeowners and contractors will need to do their homework. There are 13 types of retrofits eligible for funding. Each retrofit has unique eligibility requirements and set rebate amounts. You can read the full text here.

Who is Eligible and How to Qualify?

The Home Star bill offers two rebate programs, the “Silver Star” program and “Gold Star” program. Here are details for each:

Silver Star – Unless another amount is specified in the “Rebate Amount” column above, homeowners will receive a $1,000 rebate for each retrofit listed in our table. The maximum amount of rebates paid out will be $3,000 or 50% of the total cost, whichever is lower. For example, if a homeowner spends a total of $4,000 on eligible retrofits, they will get $2,000 or 50% back as a rebate. If they spend $8,000 on eligible retrofits, they would only receive $3,000 in rebates instead of $4,000 (which would be 50% of the cost).

We made it really easy to wade through the legalese. Here is a table that breaks down the 13 retrofits of the bill, along with the requirements and rebate amount for each. In addition to the requirements we listed, each retrofit must comply with Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards or other procedures to be approved by the Secretary of Energy.

Gold Star – To qualify for the Gold Star program, homeowners must reduce their total home energy consumption by 20%. A $3,000 rebate will be rewarded for this reduction. Homeowners can receive an additional $1,000 for each additional 5% reduction, up to a total rebate of $8,000 or 50% of the total retrofit cost. Rebates may be provided for any of the retrofits listed under the Silver Star program, or for any other energy-saving measure, including: home energy management systems, high-efficiency appliances, highly reflective roofing, awnings, canopies, and similar external fenestration (window) attachments, automatic boiler water temperature controllers, energy-efficient wood products, insulated vinyl siding, and mechanical air circulation and heat exchangers in a passive-solar home.

The Home Star bill also includes rebates for do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners that are confident in taking on the renovations themselves. DIY’ers can get up to $250 in rebates for products purchased without installation service. This rebate is limited to attic insulation, crawl space insulation and/or air-sealing retrofits.

Seal Your House Envelope and Improve Insulation

Before carrying out any serious retrofit, homeowners need to weatherize and seal their house “envelope.” The envelope includes outer walls, windows, doors, floors and the ceiling. If the house is not properly sealed and insulated, then subsequent HVAC retrofits won’t be as effective.

So how much does it cost to seal all the air leaks in a home? Prices will obviously vary based on where you live, how big your property is and the scope of the retrofit. But it will likely cost a few thousand dollars to hire a contractor for this type of renovation. In this example from the New York Times, the author spent $3,760 for insulating and sealing the envelope of his 1,200 square foot home.

How much can homeowners expect to save? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that homeowners can save 20% on heating and cooling costs by sealing leaks and adding insulation. In New York – one of the most expensive places to heat a home with an average annual cost of $1,513 – this would be a yearly savings of $300 just for heating.

Continuing with the example from the New York Times, the Silver Star program would provide $1,880 (50%) in rebates for their retrofit. At an annual savings rate of $300, the renovation would pay for itself in six years (or less if you include cost savings from reduced air conditioning bills).

Repair and Replace Leaky Ducts

Duct replacement and sealing is eligible for funding under the Home Star bill. Many homeowners will want to outsource this project to a qualified HVAC contractor. Contractors have equipment to detect leaks that otherwise may not be immediately visible. They also have methods to seal ducts that are inaccessible. For example, by spraying an adhesive or sealant through the duct work.

Replacing and sealing ducts can also be a DIY project, especially when ducts can be easily accessed in an attic or basement. Leaks should be sealed with mastic sealant or metal tape (not duct tape), then insulated to reduce heat loss and to further improve efficiency. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has an excellent guide on how to seal and insulate ducts.

Upgrade Your Furnace and Water Heater

Heating is the largest energy expense in homes, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). In colder parts of the country, it makes up 30 to 50% of annual energy bills. So improving the heating efficiency of your home will have the biggest impact on lowering your energy costs. Sealing air leaks is a good start, but replacing your heating system could provide real leverage towards cost savings.

If your furnace or boiler was purchased before 1990, then it is time to consider an upgrade. Modern furnaces are much more efficient than those that are older than 20 years. You can use rebates from the Home Star bill to replace your furnace, but you will need to meet their guidelines:

Water heaters are typically the second largest energy users after home heating and cooling systems. Replacing convention oil-fired water heaters with high-efficiency gas or electric heaters can save homeowners thousands of dollars over a 10 to 15 year period. The Home Star bill includes a variety of replacement options eligible for rebates.

Additional Financing Resources

With other legislation in the queue, it might take weeks or months to hear the Senate’s final decision on the Home Star bill. In the meantime, homeowners can receive funding from other sources to pay for green renovations. The federal government, state governments, local municipalities and even utility companies offer several options.

For example, homeowners can still receive a federal tax credit for 30% of the cost of energy-efficient products (up to a total credit of $1,500). This includes the purchase of central air conditioning systems (both the product and installation), electric heat pumps, furnaces and boilers, and whole-house ventilation fans. Visit the US Department of Energy Energy Savers website for more information.

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Cash for Caulkers update

GMS Editor — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:14:25 +0000

What has been dubbed “Home Star 2.0″ has been introduced to the full Senate on May 27 by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Jeff Bingman, Chair; Lisa Murkowski, Ranking Member). The version of the bill, S.3434, has bi-partisan support and there are some hopes it will be passed by July 4.

The Home Star Program was launched in March by President Obama to help put American housing construction workers back to work. It has two major tracks providing long and short-term Texas electricity savings; the Silver Star Program and the Gold Star Program.

According to both versions of the legislation, the Silver Star Program will offer rebates, in varying amounts up to $3,000 per home, awarded to participating contractors and vendors, who perform qualifying energy saving improvements. That means if a homeowner hires a contractor, the contractor will float the value of the rebate as a discount to you. They will then be paid by the rebate aggregator.

However, you can do some installations yourself. The press release for the Senate version says consumers can get “between $250 and $1500 in ‘point-of-sale’ rebates” for insulation, air sealing, and — of course — caulk.

The Gold Star Program offers retrofits that rebate up to $8,000 to contractors and vendors for retrofits that achieve home energy savings determined by a comparison of the simulated energy consumption of the home before and after the retrofit. Gold Star rebates to only be offered by contractors accredited by the Building Performance Institute. And it also includes similar language to the House version that defines a “certified workforce” as one where all employees performing installation work are certified by NATE, BPI, LIUNA, or HBI.

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Congressman Sestak Announces Pennsylvania’s Cash for Appliances Program

GMS Editor — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:03:05 +0000

Rebates available for non-electric water heaters, furnaces, and boilers

MEDIA, PA – The opening of the Cash for Appliances program will allow Pennsylvanians to receive rebates of up to $500 for the purchase of new ENERGY STAR qualifying non-electric water heaters, furnaces, and boilers. These rebates are being funded with $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Congressman Sestak voted for last year. The ENERGY STAR program is a joint project between the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy which looks to provide information on how to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

“Decreasing our energy consumption through energy efficiency is one of the most critical steps we can take in establishing our economic and environmental security,” said Congressman Sestak. “As Pennsylvanians continue to manage their budgets during this historic economic recession, the Cash for Appliances program can provide assistance to households who need to upgrade old and inefficient equipment but might not have been able to otherwise afford it.”

The Cash for Appliances program is being managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and applies only to equipment purchased after April 21, 2010. In order to learn more about the specifics of the program, visit the Pennsylvania Cash for Appliances website, www.paheatingrebates.com, or call 1-877-592-2061. Note that the rebate program will run for a limited time only and will end when funds run out.

“An efficiently managed Cash for Appliances program will benefit American citizens and local businesses as well as taking us one step closer to a more secure and sustainable economy,” said Congressman Sestak.

The Cash for Appliances program can also be leveraged with other Act 129 [a law passed by the Pennsylvania State Legislature] rebates. Please contact your electric company about what other appliance rebates may be available through their programs for clothes washers, refrigerators, and dishwashers, as well as electric water heaters and HVAC equipment.

If you are a PECO customer, more information about PECO’s Act 129 equipment rebates, appliance recycling, and home energy audits can be found by calling -888-5-PECO-SAVE (1-888-573-2672) or by visiting the PECO Smart ideas webpage: www.pecosmartideas.com.

If you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your principal residence, you may also be eligible for a federal tax credit for 30% of cost up to $1,500. Please note that as of this date, these tax credits are set to expire on December 31, 2010. For more information, please visit the ENERGY STAR website at www.energystar.gov/taxcredits.

Also available on the ENERGY STAR website is an energy efficient rebate locator. Visit www.energystar.gov and click on “ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebate Program” to access this search database which provides additional information about rebates that may currently be available through a zip code search.

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U.S. House approved $6 billion for home retrofit rebates

GMS Editor — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:44:59 +0000

May 06, 2010: 9:59 P.M.

The House of Representatives passed the $6 billion “cash for caulkers” program Thursday to give homeowners rebates of up to $8,000 for energy efficiency retrofits.

By a vote of 246 to 161, it passed the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, backed mostly by Democrats including President Obama and industry groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Association of Home Builders.

GOP members questioned the price tag at a time of mounting budget deficits. “We are going to authorize $6.6 billion of money we don’t have so we can caulk homes?” asked House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio during debate, according to the Associated Press.

The Senate has yet to vote on the two-year program, which will give rebates for adding insulation, sealing ducts and installing efficient water heaters, heating units and windows. It also includes $600 million in grants to states for programs to replace mobile homes with more energy efficient models.

“Home Star is a practical, common sense investment in job creation and energy savings,” says co-sponsor Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who estimates three million families will participate.

Rebates will be worth $1,500 per measure, capped at 50% of project costs or $3,000, whichever is less. They could reach $8,000 for a whole-house retrofit that’s based on a thorough energy audit.

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Massachusetts’ appliance rebates expanded

GMS Editor — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:13:52 +0000

By Robert Preer
Boston Globe Correspondent / April 24, 2010

Responding to complaints from people unable to secure rebates for energy-efficient appliances this week, state officials yesterday promised to honor payouts for the nearly 13,000 consumers on a waiting list for vouchers, and said that a second round of discounts will be offered this summer.

Unlike this week’s rebate program, the new one will distribute money through a lottery or some other random process, officials said, not on a first-come, first-served basis. It will also use funds set aside for other energy-efficiency programs in Massachusetts, instead of the federal stimulus dollars spent on Thursday’s giveaway.

While declining to provide a specific amount for the summer program, officials said it will be comparable to this week’s $5.5 million offering.

The Earth Day promotion proved so popular that a state website set up to process applications crashed minutes after the program launched at 10 a.m., and the money was depleted in less than two hours. More than 26,000 people were able to log on and secure at least one rebate, but thousands of others were frustrated by error messages, and a special phone line was jammed. In addition, a second website set up to alleviate online pressure quickly stalled out. The state had said that its website was built in anticipation of heavy traffic.

The rebate frenzy may have been heightened by the amount of the give-backs relative to the appliances’ prices. After the $250 dishwasher rebate, for instance, some low-end models were selling for $20 or less in area stores. Other rebates included $200 for refrigerators, $175 for clothes washers, and $50 for freezers. Yesterday, officials indicated rebates may be less generous next time around.

With the word yesterday that all 12,731 people on the waiting list will get a rebate reservation, those consumers now can go ahead and purchase their appliances. The cost of the waiting list rebates alone is $2 million. Officials said some of it will likely come from an initial $5.5 million federal allocation, based on the assumption that some of the rebates already handed out Thursday will go unused.

To make up the difference and to fund the summer program, the state said it will tap the account of MassSave — a partnership involving the state, major utility companies, and energy contractors. It has $2 billion to spend over the next three years to promote energy conservation in the state, funded by a surcharge of about $1 to $2 on customers’ utility bills, as well as funds from utilities and power plant operators. Robert Keough, spokesman for the state Office of Energy and the Environment, said the agency considers the appliance rebates an effective use of MassSave money, and that it will not significantly detract from MassSave’s other offerings, including home insulation subsidies and energy audits

After buying an appliance that qualifies for a rebate — which must be done by May 5 — consumers should send the rebate form to the state, along with a copy of the receipt, a recent electric bill, and a document showing the old appliance was taken away and a new one installed. Depending on store policies, consumers may have to pay for delivery, installation, and removal of old appliances. They also must pay the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax on the price of appliances prior to the rebate.

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Virginia: Buying a new appliance? Get a rebate

GMS Editor — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:25:56 +0000

By Carolyn Shapiro
The Virginian-Pilot © April 25, 2010

Perhaps your water heater was damaged during the November nor’easter.

Maybe you’ve eyed a new water-saving washing machine to replace an old one.

Or, if you have an outdated heat pump, you might have considered swapping it for a model that uses less energy.

For any of these appliance purchases, you could get some money back from the federal government.

Starting Wednesday, Virginia will launch its version of the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, funded through the federal stimulus package.

For a new electric heat pump, consumers can get $300 back. Those who buy a washing machine can receive a $75 rebate. Purchases of energy-saving gas furnaces, water heaters and refrigerators also qualify for cash. All appliances must meet federal Energy Star standards for efficiency.

Consumers who want one of the rebates should act fast. If other states’ experiences and prior rebate programs in Virginia are any indication, the cash for appliances will run out quickly.

Virginia received $7.45 million for its program, overseen by the state Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. The department expects the funding to provide 41,398 rebates.

“We are really hoping we will not have all the rebates claimed in one or two days, as has happened in other states,” said Al Christopher, director of the department’s energy division. “There is a huge amount of interest in appliance rebate programs.”

Starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday, consumers can reserve a rebate on the department’s website. The department will take reservations online only and will approve applications in the order they are received.

Once the rebate is reserved, the consumer has 60 days to purchase the appliance, then must provide documentation to the state to claim the money. The department processes the redemption forms and mails the rebate check, which can take an additional six to eight weeks, Christopher said.

The department will start a wait list once the reservations deplete the available funds. Money left over from unredeemed reservations will trickle down to those on the list.

For natural gas appliances such as furnaces and water heaters, Hampton Roads consumers don’t have to wait until Wednesday to apply for rebates.

Virginia Natural Gas and Columbia Gas of Virginia, the natural gas providers in the region, have their own rebate programs for energy-efficient gas appliances and will use the federal funds to supplement and extend them to more customers.

The state’s cash-for-appliances website will direct VNG and Columbia Gas customers to their sites to apply for rebates.

In January 2009, VNG began offering rebates of $500 for a high-efficiency furnace, $500 for a tankless water heater and $150 for a tank water heater.

Columbia Gas’ rebates, which began in January, are $300 for a furnace, $300 for a tankless water heater and $50 for a tank water heater.

Consumers won’t get the federal money in addition to the companies’ rebates. The utilities chose to use the money to subsidize their programs, stretching those dollars to more consumers.

Unlike the state, the companies accept no reservations for rebates. Their applications require customers to buy and install the equipment and provide documentation before they can receive any money.

In conjunction with the federal program, many appliance manufacturers are offering rebates on Energy Star appliances, said Rob Nicholson, president of East Coast Appliance & Electronics. He plans to run a sale, with discounts of 20 percent on high-efficiency items, at East Coast’s four Hampton Roads stores.

The Home Depot also is taking 10 percent off appliances priced $398 or more to coincide with the federal rebates, said Craig Fishel, a spokesman for the Atlanta-based home-improvement chain.

“There’s going to be some incredible prices for appliances,” Nicholson said. “It’s probably one of the best times you’ll ever see.”

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