Sears Blue Appliance Crew Provides Consumers with Tools to Find
Energy Efficiency Savings HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. Dec. 9
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Sears Blue Appliance Crew is helping
Americans better understand and take advantage of the more than
$300 million in rebates that are now becoming available for
energy-saving appliances and activities. These "Cash for Appliance"
rebates are in addition to the existing ENERGY STAR rebates that
have been made available over the past several years. To date, the
Department of Energy has approved plans and awarded funding to 36
U.S. states and territories for rebates related to ENERGY
STAR®-qualified appliances as part of the U.S. Department of
Energy's State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP),
also know as "Cash for Appliances." While program details are
continuing to develop, Sears is committed to making it easy and
affordable for consumers to "go green" by offering numerous
tracking tools at Sears.com/energystar. "We're energized by the
'Cash for Appliances' rebate program and its ability to introduce
many more of our shoppers to ENERGY STAR," said Doug Moore,
president of home appliances for Sears. "With so much discussion
around the program and various rebates available, the Sears Blue
Appliance Crew is there to make it easier for customers to go green
affordably - so that our shoppers can find, file and often receive
their rebates before they leave the store." For consumers looking
to purchase new ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, the Sears Blue
Appliance Crew will: -- Send email updates to customers who have
signed up at Sears.com/energystar to receive them, regarding which
state programs are "live"; -- Help eliminate the hassle by finding
and helping customers where possible, submit rebates for appliance
purchases before they leave the store; -- Provide information about
which appliances qualify for the rebate, both in-store and online
at Sears.com/energystar; -- Offer details on the individual state
rebate programs, including when and how much will be available, and
any guidelines that may apply; and -- Assist consumers with the
responsible removal and disposal of their old appliances, as
needed. In an effort to rid the energy grid of old "clunker"
appliances, the Department of Energy is encouraging states to
incorporate recycling into their "Cash for Appliances" programs.
Many states, such as California and Ohio will require recycling,
and others like Florida and Illinois will provide an additional
rebate for consumers who dispose of their old appliances in a
responsible manner. As the only national retailer certified by the
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency to facilitate its Responsible
Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program, Sears will make it easier for
customers across the country to recycle their appliances by
providing removal of one appliance for each appliance delivered.
Sears' RAD program helps to facilitate the environmentally
responsible disposal of household appliances, and significantly
reduces emissions of ozone depleting substances and greenhouse
gases. Each year, the program assists in the proper disposal of
more than one million residential appliances. To date, the program
has helped prevent the release of more than 600,000 metric tons of
carbon dioxide equivalents into the air. That equates to preventing
the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 183,000 cars a year.
Additionally, the Sears Blue Appliance Crew offers the largest
assortment of ENERGY STAR-rated appliances', making it even easier
for customers to find models that incorporate advanced technologies
that result in 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard
models. For instance, the new Kenmore Elite high-efficiency clothes
washer saves 69 percent water and 61 percent energy, to reduce
utility bills and help conserve natural resources (compared to a
conventional washer manufactured before 2004, using the Normal
cycle). The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded funding to the
following 36 states and territories. Program details, as outlined
at http://www.energysavers.gov/rebates, are ongoing (see table
below). Approved State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs
(As of December 4, 2009) Eligible Projected ENERGY STAR Allocation
Start Qualified Rebate State of Funds Date Appliances Amounts
Recycling ----- ---------- --------- ----------- ------- ---------
Alabama $4,473,000 April 2010 Select $25 - $150 Encouraged clothes
washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and room air
conditioners (replacement of old appliances mandatory) Alaska
$658,000 February Select $150 - $500 TBD 2010 clothes washers,
dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers California $35,267,000
March 2010 Select $50 - $100 Required clothes washers,
refrigerators, and room air conditioners Colorado $4,739,000 March
2010 Program has TBD TBD been approved by the U.S. Department of
Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as
available Connecticut $3,359,000 January Select $50 - $500 TBD 2010
clothes washers, refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners,
and central air conditioning Delaware $838,000 December Select $25
- $200 TBD 2009 clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators,
freezers, dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, and water heaters
Florida $17,585,000 April 2010 Select 20% off Additional clothes
the $75 rebate washers, purchase offered dishwashers, price for
refrigerators, before recycling freezers, taxes gas tankless water
heaters, and room air conditioners Georgia $9,293,000 February
Program has TBD TBD 2010 been approved by the U.S. Department of
Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as
available Idaho $1,462,000 February Select $25 - $150 Required 2010
clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, room air conditioners,
electric heat pump water heaters, and gas water heaters Illinois
$12,379,000 January Select $93 - $316 Additional 2010 clothes $50
-$100 washers, mail- in dishwashers, rebate refrigerators, offered
freezers, for room air recycling conditioners, and gas storage
water heaters Indiana $6,118,000 February Select Up to $500 TBD
2010 furnace or heating, ventilation, air conditioning system
(HVAC) Iowa $2,881,000 January Select hot $100 - $500 TBD 2010
water heaters, clothes washers, dishwashers, room air conditioners,
central air conditioning, refrigerators, boilers and furnaces
Kansas $2,689,000 December Program has TBD TBD 2009 been approved
by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at
Sears.com/energystar as available Louisiana $4,232,000 January
Select $75 - $500 TBD 2010 clothes washers, dishwashers,
refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, HVAC systems, and room air
conditioners Maine $1,263,000 January Program has TBD TBD 2010 been
approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided
at Sears.com/energystar as available Michigan $9,598,000 Late
Select $25 - $100 Encouraged Spring clothes 2010 washers,
dishwashers, and refrigerators Mississippi $2,820,00 March Select
TBD TBD 2010 clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers,
room air conditioners, and gas storage water heaters Montana
$928,000 April 2010 Select $50-$100 Encouraged clothes washers,
dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers Nevada $2,495,000 April
2010 Program TBD TBD has been approved by the U.S. Department of
Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as
available New $1,262,000 March 2010 Select $100 - $1,000 TBD
Hampshire hot water heaters, boilers and furnaces for solar thermal
or fossil fuel based heating systems New Jersey $8,331,000 January
Select TBD TBD 2010 heating (heating and cooling and equipment,
cooling clothes equipment washers, only); refrigerators, April and
2010 dishwashers New York $18,700,000 February Select $50 - $225
Maximum 2010 refrigerators, level of freezers, rebates clothes
offered washers, for and recycling dishwashers North $8,849,000
April 2010 Select 15% off Required Carolina clothes the washers,
purchase dishwashers, of refrigerators, qualified freezers,
appliances and water heaters - North $615,000 April 2010 Program
TBD TBD Dakota has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy;
updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Ohio
$11,020,000 February Select $100 - $250 Required 2010 clothes
washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, electric heat pump water
heaters, and high- efficiency gas storage water heaters Oregon
$3,636,000 December Select 70% up to TBD 2009 gas $2,000 furnaces,
and heat pump equipment Pennsylvania $11,944,000 March 2010 Program
TBD TBD has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates
will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available South
$4,298,000 March 2010 Program TBD TBD Carolina has been approved by
the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided at
Sears.com/energystar as available Tennessee $5,963,000 April 2010
Select $40 - $250 TBD air source heat pumps, central air
conditioners, and room air conditioners Utah $2,626,000 February
Program TBD TBD 2010 has been approved by the U.S. Department of
Energy; updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as
available Vermont $596,000 January Program TBD TBD 2010 / has been
March 2010 approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will
be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available Washington
$6,284,000 February Select $75 - $150 Encouraged 2010 clothes
washers and refrigerators West $1,741,000 April 2010 Program TBD
TBD Virginia has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy;
updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available
Wisconsin $5,400,000 January Select $25 - $2,000 TBD 2010 clothes
washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, solar
hot water, boilers, furnaces, geothermal heat pumps, central air
conditioners, and air-source heat pumps Guam $166,000 April 2010
Program TBD TBD has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy;
updates will be provided at Sears.com/energystar as available U.S.
$104,000 December Program TBD TBD Virgin 2009 has been Islands
approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; updates will be provided
at Sears.com/energystar as available To learn more about Sears'
online and in-store Appliance Research Centers, the online ENERGY
STAR Rebate Finder and how the Sears Blue Appliance Crew can help,
please visit Sears.com/energystar. About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline
retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail
stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the
leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn
and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance.
Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and
a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as
Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe
and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection,
which is offered exclusively by Sears and Kmart. We are the
nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 12
million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation
operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co.
and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings'
website at http://www.searsholdings.com/. About Sears Home
Appliances Sears is the nation's leading appliance retailer with
the largest selection - over 4400 models. Only Sears sells the top
10 brands, including Kenmore, the nation's leading appliance brand.
Sears always beats the competition's price, guaranteed, up to 14
days. Sears offers worry-free 1-year service, guaranteed and free
help and support on all brands serviced by Sears 24/7 by phone.
Sears provides next day delivery on over 1600 models - that's five
times more than any national competitor. In March 2009, Sears
launched the online ENERGY STAR Rebate Center - a program to help
educate Americans about the millions of dollars in rebates that are
available for ENERGY STAR-rated products and make it easier to
receive these rebates. Sears has demonstrated its commitment to
increasing America's energy efficiency through its actions over
more than 10 years. Sears sells more ENERGY STAR-rated appliances
than any other retailer. In fact, in 2008, Sears was the first
retailer to sell more than 3.1 million ENERGY STAR-qualified
appliances from the nation's top brands, including Kenmore, the
nation's leading appliance brand. In 2008 alone, Kenmore ENERGY
STAR-rated appliances helped save America nearly 700 million
Kilowatt hours, over four billion gallons of water, and over $100
million dollars. DATASOURCE: Sears Holdings Corporation CONTACT:
Larry Costello of Sears Holdings Public Relations, +1-847-286-9036,
or +1-847-346-4514, ; or Jody Sunna of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR,
+1-212-367-6831, or +1-646-409-3782, Web Site:
http://www.sears.com/ http://www.energysavers.gov/ Company News
On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/923204.html
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