CHASSELL - Using energy-efficient household appliances can save a consumer money in lower energy costs, and it can lower the dependence in the United States on foreign sources of petroleum, which is why the federal government is offering a rebate program to help cover the cost of energy-efficient appliances.
The rebate program is being funded with $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and Stephanie Epps, appliance analyst for the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth in Lansing, said each state is administering its own plan for carrying out the federal program.
The Federal Department of Energy has a list of appliances eligible for the program, Epps said.
"The states have the discretion for the appliances they want to make eligible," she said.
In Michigan, eligible appliances include: refrigerators; clothes washers; dishwashers; propane condensing water heaters; propane storage water heaters; solar water heaters; oil furnaces and propane furnaces.
Rebates range from $50 to 250, with state officials determining which amounts are appropriate for their state.
Epps said the rebate program is for federal Energy Star-rated appliances only. Michigan was allotted $9,598,000 for the rebates, and as of Monday, 10 percent of funds had been reserved by program participants.
"It's moving at a steady pace, but not too fast," she said. "We really didn't have any estimates how fast it would move."
The rebate program will last until each state's allotment is gone.
Two private companies, Michigan Energy Options and Helgeson Enterprises, are processing the applications for the rebates in Michigan, Epps said. Consumers have to provide either a copy or the original receipt for the energy-efficient appliance they purchase, and show the new appliance is replacing an inefficient appliance, which state officials are encouraging consumers to recycle. Some retailers are providing Internet access in their stores so customers can do the application online.
Epps said consumer knowledge of the program hasn't yet reached the level of interest shown by the media or retailers and manufacturers, who are putting the word out about the program.
"They're doing the promotion," she said.
One of those retailers is Keith Hitchens, owner of Pillowman Appliances on U.S. 41 near Chassell, who said customers are showing interest in the rebate program.
"We're getting calls," he said. "We've sold a few."
Hitchens, who has indicated on the sign in front of his store that he's participating in the rebate program, said most of the appliances he sells are Energy Star rated, and he thinks customers will benefit from the rebate program.
"For clothes washers and dishwashers it's a great idea," he said.
Energy-efficient clothes washers and driers can save a family of four $2,000 a year in reduced costs for heating water, dry time, and water and sewage costs, Hitchens said.
An increase in the use of energy-efficient appliances could save an entire community money, also, Epps said, by reducing water usage and sewage removal.
Although the federal list for eligible appliances is larger than the Michigan list, Epps said state officials chose appliances which would more likely to be used in the state.
"We assumed the white goods (clothes washers, refrigerators and dishwashers) would go a lot faster than the heaters or furnaces," she said.
For more information about the Michigan energy-efficient appliance rebate program, visit http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/daily.cfm/hp_news_id=200.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie @mininggazette.com.
