Homeowners considering a solar power installation may be well-apprised of the solar energy rebates their state provides - but other energy-efficiency rebates are widely available, too.
Improving energy efficiency when a solar array is installed provides a number of benefits. Not only will a solar-powered, energy-efficient house draw less electricity from the grid, but doing multiple home-improvement projects at once minimizes the hassle of home construction. And homeowners who hire contractors to perform several projects at the same time might be able to negotiate a better rate than if those jobs were done piecemeal.
Efficiency can be improved in as number of ways, but new appliances may be one of the best investments for energy-conscious homeowners. The federal government estimates that replacing a 10-year-old washing machine with a new, high-efficiency model will save $135 each year - and the difference can be just as stark with refrigerators or air conditioners. New fridges use 75 percent less energy than two-decade-old models, according to government estimates.
True, new appliances are expensive - and buying them might not make financial sense if a person plans to move within the next few years. But a spate of state-level rebate programs can make appliances surprisingly affordable and shorten their payback period.
Thanks to the federal stimulus bill, $300 million was provided to fund state governments' appliance-rebate programs. Some states' rebate initiatives have been extremely popular: Massachusetts saw its rebate-reservation system crash just a few hours after it was launched in April. In response to the glitch, the state promised rebates to all those who applied.
Maryland has a rebate program in place, too; it was recently expanded to cover air conditioners and air-source heat pumps. Thus far, Maryland's rebate initiative hasn't seen the same level of interest as Massachusetts' - just $500,000 of the state's $5.4 million in rebates have been claimed, according to the Baltimore Sun.
California also expanded its program recently. Now, Californians can combine state rebates with those provided by utilities - like the Southern California Gas Company and Southern California Edison - and receive up to $3,995 for buying new appliances.
While new appliances aren't the only way to improve a home's energy efficiency, they can make a significant impact. And the rebates that many states make available may render appliance purchases even more attractive.
