Get cash back when you buy energy-saving appliances

Are you planning to buy a new clothes dryer, washing machine, refrigerator or freezer sometime soon? Perhaps you are in the market for a new water heater. If so, we may have some good news for you!

The Grays Harbor PUD’s Power and Energy Services Department is offering rebates on qualifying Energy Star-rated appliances. They’ve done this for years, but it’s been a while since we’ve written about it. (They also offer rebates on smart thermostats and weatherization projects, but we’ll cover that in a future column!)

APPLIANCE REBATE PROGRAM

Let’s start with the appliance rebate program.

To receive the rebates, an itemized purchase receipt or invoice must accompany the one-page rebate application. And the applications must be received within 60 days of purchase or delivery date.

The whole point of this program is to encourage energy saving, so each appliance must be Energy Star rated. Also, clothes washers must meet additional requirements that are outlined on the application form.

The application can be found on the PUD website – or at the Energy Services Department of the PUD. It is a very simple form that includes all the program requirements and a place for the manufacturer and model number of the appliance you bought.

Once you’ve attached the detailed receipt and turned it in, you can expect to receive a rebate check in the mail soon after. (However, if you happen to be delinquent on your PUD account, the rebate will be credited to that account.)

So how much can you receive back? The rebate for an eligible refrigerator is $10, for a freezer is $15, for a clothes washer is $30 and for a clothes dryer is $50.

If you have any questions about the rebate program, the friendly people at the Energy Services Department are eager to help. You can call at (360) 538-6383 or e-mail at EnergyServices@ghpud.org.

WATER HEATER REBATES

An energy-efficient water heater can make a huge difference in a home’s energy consumption. And, usually a water heater is a bigger investment than other appliances. So, not surprisingly, the rebates for a heat pump water heater are much more significant.

The program requirements:

• In existing homes, the new heat pump water heater must replace an electric storage water heater.

• The heat pump water heater must be listed on the Northwest Energy Alliance’s qualified products list as meeting the requirement of the Northern Climate Specifications.

• Required permits to install the heat pump water heater are the responsibility of the contractor and the homeowner. Also, the heat pump water heater must be installed according to manufacturer specifications.

• Only one heat pump water heater rebate will be paid per location in a 13-year period.

• Applications must be received within 60 days of purchase or delivery date.

• The receipt or invoice must be attached with application submission.

• Installations may be verified by the Grays Harbor PUD to ensure compliance with program guidelines.

Just like the appliance rebate, the people at Energy Services are eager to help, and the form can be found on the website at www.ghpud.org.

The great news is that the rebate for a Tier 1 heat pump water heater is $300 and a Tier 2 or Tier 3 water heater is $600! That’s worth filling out a one-sheet form!

ENERGY SAVINGS

In case you missed it, the other wonderful thing about purchasing a new energy-efficient appliance – in addition to the rebate – is that you should see a decrease in your energy use – knocking down that energy bill a bit.

DUCTLESS HEAT PUMP

If you happened to miss last week’s column, you missed our conversation with Melinda James-Saffron, the director of the PUD’s Power and Energy Services. We talked about the low-income ductless heat pump program that we at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor partner with the Grays Harbor PUD to administer. This program offers a free ductless heat pump to those Grays Harbor PUD customers who qualify. So far the program has installed more than 350 ductless heat pumps in the last four years. If you want to learn if you or someone you know is eligible, check out last week’s column on our website at www.nwghc.org, or give us a call at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor (360) 533-7828 and ask for Pat. We are in the office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. You can also email Pat at pbeaty@aberdeen-nhs.com.

NEXT WEEK

Next week we will discuss more ways to become more energy efficient – and get rebates – through the PUD. (Here’s a hint of what we’ll include – think about weatherization, manufactured homes and smart thermostats!)