by jboullion | Dec 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a story on WQOW-TV:
Menomonie (WQOW) – The Cash for Appliances program is set to begin in Wisconsin. It will work similar to cash for clunkers, but only with large household appliances: freezers, washers, dishwashers will bank a discount.
By going green, you could end up saving some green in more ways than one.
“I think that what they want to do is tune up the energy efficiency of the appliances that are out there and if we’re saving energy and not burning electricity that makes everything green,” says Deb Rogge, owner of Denny’s Appliance in Menomonie.
Cash for appliances works like this: if you purchase a new energy star appliance after January 1st, you could get rebates of up to $200. But the program does have some restrictions.
“Not all appliance dealers are registered Focus on Energy or Energy Star dealers. It has to be for replacement appliances only because new construction will not qualify,” says Rogge.
And not all appliances qualify either.
“So if you are looking at replacing your washing machine, your refrigerator, your freezer or your dishwasher, those are the household appliances that it applies to,” she says.
So how much can you save?
Energy star refrigerators will qualify for a $75 rebate.
Select dishwashers: $25.
Energy star freezers: $50.
Certain energy star washers: $100.
Water heaters with certain energy efficiency levels will qualify for $150.
But just like the cash for clunkers program, the money may not last that long.
by jboullion | Dec 17, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article in the Fond du Lac Reporter:
MADISON, WI – December 16, 2009 – If you are considering replacing the older appliances in your home, 2010 may be the year to do it. Alliant Energy is encouraging its Wisconsin customers to take advantage of the new State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP) next year to receive Cash-Back Rewards to purchase new ENERGY STAR® qualified or high efficiency appliances and equipment when they replace their used ones.
Starting January 1, 2010, as part of funding awarded to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – widely known as the federal stimulus package – all Wisconsin residents will have the opportunity to become more energy efficient while saving money through the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. The initiative is being administered by Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
“If homeowners have been considering purchasing new appliances at some point, it’s an ideal time to do so in 2010 under this program,” said Linda Mattes, Alliant Energy Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewables. “Appliances, water heaters, and heating and cooling equipment are among the largest energy users in a home and replacing them with newer, more efficient models will save families money in the long run.”
by jboullion | Dec 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From a news release issued by Better Environmental Solutions and the Wisconsin Grocers Association:
Tomah, WI – With state and world leaders gathered in Copenhagen to talk about climate change, Burnstad’s European Market is one of the first grocery stores in the state to achieve the ‘Green Grocer’ certification, which assists grocery stores in achieving energy savings, sustainability and environmental standards.
“Burnstad’s Tomah European Market and the WGA’s Green Grocer Program show that businesses can reduce their costs, emissions and improve service with energy efficiency,” said Governor Jim Doyle. “This shows one concrete way for Wisconsin to be a leader to create green jobs and a green economy.”
The WGA Green Grocer Program recently won the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency.
Burnstad’s Market upgraded their lighting and refrigerator compressor efficiency saving $17,703 and 228,446 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. This is enough electricity to power 21 homes and the equivalent to taking 31 cars off the road. They will reduce CO2 emissions by 408,795 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions next year. Burnstad’s received a DOE Rebuild Grant to help upgrade food service equipment with Energy Star appliances.
“We are pleased to be one of the first grocery stores in the Wisconsin to be Green Grocer certified,” said Kent Burnstad, chair of Burnstad’s Markets. “We took many steps like more efficient refrigerators, lights, and motors to save energy and reduce our energy bills and carbon emissions. We save money that we can pass onto our customers and pass a better community onto our children.”
Offered by the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) to its members, the program is administered by Better Environmental Solutions, a Madison, Wisconsin-based environmental consulting firm. ‘Green Grocers’ also received energy efficiency and conservation programming support from Wisconsin Power and Light (WPL), an Alliant Energy company. The seven Green Grocer stores taking action will reduce 3,986,000 pounds of CO2 emissions and save 2,389,010 kilowatt hours of electricity next year, equal to taking 328 cars off the road.
by jboullion | Dec 16, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Mary Spicuzza in the Wisconsin State Journal:
For months, people have been asking store manager Rick Simler of Grand Appliance and TV about a new stimulus program that will provide rebates for energy-efficient appliances.
And for months, Simler has been hoping to get answers from state officials so he knows what to tell his customers.
“Almost everybody knows it’s coming, and people are asking,” Simler said, standing near a row of energy-efficient dishwashers. “And a lot of people are reluctant to make their purchases now because they’re waiting for the rebate to come out.”
But the wait for answers may be over soon. On Tuesday, Wisconsin was awarded $5.4 million through a federal stimulus program overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wisconsin’s program is expected to start in early January and will offer mail-in rebates ranging from $25 to $200 on some energy-efficient appliances bought by residential customers. Select energy-saving, or “Energy Star,” appliances would qualify for rebates. Oil and gas furnaces, boilers, water heaters, air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and heat pumps likely will be included in the program.
by jboullion | Dec 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
From an article by Mary Spicuzza in the Wisconsin State Journal:
For months, people have been asking store manager Rick Simler of Grand Appliance and TV about a new stimulus program that will provide rebates for energy-efficient appliances.
And for months, Simler has been hoping to get answers from state officials so he knows what to tell his customers.
“Almost everybody knows it’s coming, and people are asking,” Simler said, standing near a row of energy-efficient dishwashers. “And a lot of people are reluctant to make their purchases now because they’re waiting for the rebate to come out.”
But the wait for answers may be over soon. On Tuesday, Wisconsin was awarded $5.4 million through a federal stimulus program overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wisconsin’s program is expected to start in early January and will offer mail-in rebates ranging from $25 to $200 on some energy-efficient appliances bought by residential customers. Select energy-saving, or “Energy Star,” appliances would qualify for rebates. Oil and gas furnaces, boilers, water heaters, air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers and heat pumps likely will be included in the program.
