Apr 22 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Steve Ramirez Las Cruces Sun-News, N.M.



If you've been in the market for a new washing machine, refrigerator, or gas furnace, today could be a good day to buy it.

The Cash for Appliances program, which provides $200 rebates to people who buy Energy Star appliances, begins today in New Mexico. Those rebates will be available to anyone who buys an Energy Star compliant washer, refrigerator or gas furnace. Energy Star appliances have higher efficiency ratings, providing savings that could become significant.

The rebate program is being made possible by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding, through the U.S. Department of Energy, to New Mexico's Energy Conservation and Management Division.

"This is going to be great for New Mexico," said Lynn Southard, spokeswoman for New Mexico Attorney General Gary King. "The important thing here for people to understand is that if they're

going to take advantage of the rebate program they'll need to do it quickly. In other states where this program has been conducted the money available for rebates has run out quickly because of the number of people taking advantage of the rebates."

Harry Day, operations manager of Best Buy Las Cruces, 2280 E. Lohman Ave., said Wednesday his store has already received numerous calls from residents who want to know more about the program.

"We've actually seen a large increase in inquires," Day said. "People who are aware of the program in other states have been calling us and asking when it's going to start in this state."

Cash for Appliance rebates in other states were depleted within the first 24 hours the program was offered.

. Rebates will be accepted at 6 a.m. today, and will be available on a first come, first served basis based on the postmark date associated with a completed, signed application with all required documentation.

New appliances bought before today are not eligible for rebate.

Day believes washers, refrigerators and gas furnaces were determined as qualified appliances in New Mexico because of the potential savings they could have on utility costs and consumption.

"Some of these sensor reading front-loading washers can save anywhere from 300 to 500 gallons of water a year," Day said. "I've heard that refrigerators can account for 15 to 20 percent of the power consumption in a home, and some of these Energy Star refrigerators can save as much as 10 percent in electrical costs a year."

The rebate could also be a nice inducement to buy. Day said the starting price of an Energy Star top-loading washer at Best Buy is $449 and $549 for a refrigerator.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at sramirez@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5452.

Cash for Appliances

-- Clothes washers, refrigerators and gas furnaces, that are Energy Star compliant, are the only appliances eligible in New Mexico for rebates.

-- People who buy any of those appliances and submit an application will be eligible for a $200 rebate.

-- There is $1.2 million in rebate funds available to New Mexicans who buy a washer or refrigerator.

-- There is $463,000 available statewide for people who buy gas furnaces.

-- Rebates are available on a first come, first served basis.

-- Washers, refrigerators and gas furnaces can be bought at any store that sells new appliances.

-- In other states where the Cash for Appliances program has been conducted, rebate funds were exhausted quickly.

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