Sears Helps Americans Access 'Cash For Appliance' Rebates From States Awarded Funding
Sears Blue Appliance Crew Provides Consumers with Tools to Find Energy Efficiency Savings
The Sears Blue Appliance Crew is helping Americans better understand and take advantage of the more than $300 million in rebates that are now becoming available for energy-saving appliances and activities. These "Cash for Appliance" rebates are in addition to the existing ENERGY STAR rebates that have been made available over the past several years.
To date, the Department of Energy has approved plans and awarded funding to 36 U.S. states and territories for rebates related to ENERGY STARĀ®-qualified appliances as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP), also know as "Cash for Appliances." While program details are continuing to develop, Sears is committed to making it easy and affordable for consumers to "go green" by offering numerous tracking tools at Sears.com/energystar.
"We're energized by the 'Cash for Appliances' rebate program and its ability to introduce many more of our shoppers to ENERGY STAR," said Doug Moore, president of home appliances for Sears. "With so much discussion around the program and various rebates available, the Sears Blue Appliance Crew is there to make it easier for customers to go green affordably - so that our shoppers can find, file and often receive their rebates before they leave the store."
For consumers looking to purchase new ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, the Sears Blue Appliance Crew will:
-- Send email updates to customers who have signed up at Sears.com/energystar to receive them, regarding which state programs are "live"; -- Help eliminate the hassle by finding and helping customers where possible, submit rebates for appliance purchases before they leave the store; -- Provide information about which appliances qualify for the rebate, both in-store and online at Sears.com/energystar; -- Offer details on the individual state rebate programs, including when and how much will be available, and any guidelines that may apply; and -- Assist consumers with the responsible removal and disposal of their old appliances, as needed.
In an effort to rid the energy grid of old "clunker" appliances, the Department of Energy is encouraging states to incorporate recycling into their "Cash for Appliances" programs. Many states, such as California and Ohio will require recycling, and others like Florida and Illinois will provide an additional rebate for consumers who dispose of their old appliances in a responsible manner. As the only national retailer certified by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency to facilitate its Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program, Sears will make it easier for customers across the country to recycle their appliances by providing removal of one appliance for each appliance delivered.
Sears' RAD program helps to facilitate the environmentally responsible disposal of household appliances, and significantly reduces emissions of ozone depleting substances and greenhouse gases. Each year, the program assists in the proper disposal of more than one million residential appliances. To date, the program has helped prevent the release of more than 600,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents into the air. That equates to preventing the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 183,000 cars a year.
Additionally, the Sears Blue Appliance Crew offers the largest assortment of ENERGY STAR-rated appliances', making it even easier for customers to find models that incorporate advanced technologies that result in 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models. For instance, the new Kenmore Elite high-efficiency clothes washer saves 69 percent water and 61 percent energy, to reduce utility bills and help conserve natural resources (compared to a conventional washer manufactured before 2004, using the Normal cycle).
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded funding to the following 36 states and territories. Program details, as outlined at www.energysavers.gov/rebates, are ongoing (see table below).
Approved State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs (As of December 4, 2009) Eligible Projected ENERGY STAR Allocation Start Qualified Rebate State of Funds Date Appliances Amounts Recycling ----- ---------- --------- ----------- ------- --------- Alabama $4,473,000 April 2010 Select $25 - $150 Encouraged clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and room air conditioners (replacement of old appliances mandatory) Alaska $658,000 February Select $150 - $500 TBD 2010 clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers California $35,267,000 March 2010 Select $50 - $100 Required clothes washers, refrigerators, and room air conditioners Colorado $4,739,000 March 2010 Program has TBD TBD been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Connecticut $3,359,000 January Select $50 - $500 TBD 2010 clothes washers, refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, and central air conditioning Delaware $838,000 December Select $25 - $200 TBD 2009 clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, and water heaters Florida $17,585,000 April 2010 Select 20% off Additional clothes the $75 rebate washers, purchase offered dishwashers, price for refrigerators, before recycling freezers, taxes gas tankless water heaters, and room air conditioners Georgia $9,293,000 February Program has TBD TBD 2010 been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Idaho $1,462,000 February Select $25 - $150 Required 2010 clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, room air conditioners, electric heat pump water heaters, and gas water heaters Illinois $12,379,000 January Select $93 - $316 Additional 2010 clothes $50 -$100 washers, mail- in dishwashers, rebate refrigerators, offered freezers, for room air recycling conditioners, and gas storage water heaters Indiana $6,118,000 February Select Up to $500 TBD 2010 furnace or heating, ventilation, air conditioning system (HVAC) Iowa $2,881,000 January Select hot $100 - $500 TBD 2010 water heaters, clothes washers, dishwashers, room air conditioners, central air conditioning, refrigerators, boilers and furnaces Kansas $2,689,000 December Program has TBD TBD 2009 been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Louisiana $4,232,000 January Select $75 - $500 TBD 2010 clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, HVAC systems, and room air conditioners Maine $1,263,000 January Program has TBD TBD 2010 been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Michigan $9,598,000 Late Select $25 - $100 Encouraged Spring clothes 2010 washers, dishwashers, and refrigerators Mississippi $2,820,00 March Select TBD TBD 2010 clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, and gas storage water heaters Montana $928,000 April 2010 Select $50-$100 Encouraged clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers Nevada $2,495,000 April 2010 Program TBD TBD has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available New $1,262,000 March 2010 Select $100 - $1,000 TBD Hampshire hot water heaters, boilers and furnaces for solar thermal or fossil fuel based heating systems New Jersey $8,331,000 January Select TBD TBD 2010 heating (heating and cooling and equipment, cooling clothes equipment washers, only); refrigerators, April and 2010 dishwashers New York $18,700,000 February Select $50 - $225 Maximum 2010 refrigerators, level of freezers, rebates clothes offered washers, for and recycling dishwashers North $8,849,000 April 2010 Select 15% off Required Carolina clothes the washers, purchase dishwashers, of refrigerators, qualified freezers, appliances and water heaters - North $615,000 April 2010 Program TBD TBD Dakota has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Ohio $11,020,000 February Select $100 - $250 Required 2010 clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, electric heat pump water heaters, and high- efficiency gas storage water heaters Oregon $3,636,000 December Select 70% up to TBD 2009 gas $2,000 furnaces, and heat pump equipment Pennsylvania $11,944,000 March 2010 Program TBD TBD has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available South $4,298,000 March 2010 Program TBD TBD Carolina has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Tennessee $5,963,000 April 2010 Select $40 - $250 TBD air source heat pumps, central air conditioners, and room air conditioners Utah $2,626,000 February Program TBD TBD 2010 has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Vermont $596,000 January Program TBD TBD 2010 / has been March 2010 approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Washington $6,284,000 February Select $75 - $150 Encouraged 2010 clothes washers and refrigerators West $1,741,000 April 2010 Program TBD TBD Virginia has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Wisconsin $5,400,000 January Select $25 - $2,000 TBD 2010 clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, solar hot water, boilers, furnaces, geothermal heat pumps, central air conditioners, and air-source heat pumps Guam $166,000 April 2010 Program TBD TBD has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available U.S. $104,000 December Program TBD TBD Virgin 2009 has been Islands approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available
To learn more about Sears' online and in-store Appliance Research Centers, the online ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder and how the Sears Blue Appliance Crew can help, please visit Sears.com/energystar.
About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered exclusively by Sears and Kmart. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com.
About Sears Home Appliances
Sears is the nation's leading appliance retailer with the largest selection - over 4400 models. Only Sears sells the top 10 brands, including Kenmore, the nation's leading appliance brand. Sears always beats the competition's price, guaranteed, up to 14 days. Sears offers worry-free 1-year service, guaranteed and free help and support on all brands serviced by Sears 24/7 by phone. Sears provides next day delivery on over 1600 models - that's five times more than any national competitor. In March 2009, Sears launched the online ENERGY STAR Rebate Center - a program to help educate Americans about the millions of dollars in rebates that are available for ENERGY STAR-rated products and make it easier to receive these rebates. Sears has demonstrated its commitment to increasing America's energy efficiency through its actions over more than 10 years.
Sears sells more ENERGY STAR-rated appliances than any other retailer. In fact, in 2008, Sears was the first retailer to sell more than 3.1 million ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances from the nation's top brands, including
Kenmore, the nation's leading appliance brand. In 2008 alone, Kenmore ENERGY STAR-rated appliances helped save America nearly 700 million Kilowatt hours, over four billion gallons of water, and over $100 million dollars.
First Call Analyst: Westenberger, Richard
FCMN Contact: lcoste5@searshc.com
SOURCE: Sears Holdings Corporation
CONTACT: Larry Costello of Sears Holdings Public Relations,
+1-847-286-9036, or +1-847-346-4514, Larry.Costello@searshc.com; or Jody Sunna
of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, +1-212-367-6831, or +1-646-409-3782,
Jody.Sunna@eurorscg.com
Web Site: http://www.sears.com/
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver
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