Cash for Appliances is the New Water-Saving Cash for Clunkers Program

While last summer's Cash for Clunkers program that got gas-guzzlers off the road is long gone, a new Cash for Appliances trade-in deal is here. The new eco-friendly deal is an especially sweet sounding one for water conservationists because beyond energy-saving attributes, it rewards consumers for water-saving features, too. Swapping out an old top loading clothing washer for an Energy-Star rated model could save an astonishing 40 to 45 gallons of water...per load!

The program is dishing out $300 million dollars in the form of rebates ranging between $50 and $200. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) deals differ from state to state, so before you run out and replace your old washer, dryer, dishwasher, air conditioner, water heater, refrigerator or other appliance, check the rules for your location.

In New York the Great Appliance Swap-Out, starting in February, will hand out over 170,000 rebates, including impressive $500 rebates for consumers who scoop up a three-appliance package of a refrigerator, dishwasher and clothes washer. California's program is scheduled to begin in March with $50 to $100 rebates. Illinois plans a two part program with one phase for large appliances including heaters, furnaces and air conditioners in January and another for smaller appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators and clothes washers scheduled to begin on Earth Day. We also love that some states are giving extra bucks to recyclers. Florida, for example, is giving an additional $75 to participants who present a receipt showing they recycled their clunker appliances.

Sounds like the perfect excuse to go get that Energy Star rated refrigerator with a filtered tap water dispenser in the door that you've always wanted!

Photo by Chris Corwin on flickr under a Creative Commons license.