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 STAR®-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
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