Every once in a while a truly remarkable program for consumers comes along from state government. Consumer advocates, environmentalists, and those seeking to stimulate more jobs in Massachusetts are all praising The Great Appliance Exchange, a new program run by the Massachusetts Division of Energy Efficiency at the Department of Energy Resources. This program is designed to save you money on new energy-efficient appliances purchased in Massachusetts. Frank Gorke, the Director of Energy Efficiency, was recently my guest on my Cable TV show “The Beacon” where he emphasized both the savings this program can provide and the need to act quickly once the program becomes available at 10 am on Earth Day, April 22nd.

The Great Appliance Exchange, funded with federal stimulus dollars, is like “cash-for-clunkers” for residential appliances instead of for automobiles. Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis, and large rebates are available from the program until the pool of money runs out. You can save $250 on dishwashers, $200 on refrigerators, $175 on washing machines, and $50 on freezers. You can buy one of each type of appliance per consumer household for a potential rebate savings of $675. Old appliances must be removed when the new ones are delivered. In addition, because the new appliances are more energy efficient, you will receive additional savings from electric utility bills: approximately $40 per year for dishwashers, $150 per year for refrigerators, $175 per year for washing machines, and $35 per year for freezers. Even more savings may be available, as well, by using additional rebates from the Department of Energy Resources, and from manufacturers, retailers, and utilities.

However, you must make a timely application to receive this money, for once the money available in the program runs out, which could happen soon after it opens, no more rebates will be issued. For all those interested in these savings, I strongly recommend that you that you reserve your rebates by phone or by internet as soon as possible after 10 am, April 22nd. By phone you can reserve rebates by calling 1-877-627-9271 and by internet by going to their website. Remember to do this right after the program become available at 10 am on April 22nd so you will not be shut out. Between now and then you can familiarize yourself with the program rules and procedures and shop around at pre-approved Massachusetts retailers for eligible models. A complete list of eligible models can be found on the website and pre-approved retailers are listed on the website, as well. Purchases must be made from April 22nd through May 5th with home delivery so the old appliance can be picked up when the new one is dropped off. All the paperwork to secure the rebates must be submitted postmarked by June 19, 2010. Complete rules are available at the website, and please feel free to call my office at (617) 722-2020 with any questions you may have.

In addition to the monetary savings available to you through The Great Appliance Exchange, you will also be contributing to a more energy efficient and energy independent economy in Massachusetts and for our country. For every amount of energy saved through efficiency and conservation, we need to build fewer expensive energy generating plants with their costs to consumers, to the environment, and to our security. Efficiency, together with conservation, is the best and most economical way to solve our energy problems. We save on expense, we save our environment and climate from potential harm, and we have less need to import energy from abroad.

The Great Appliance Exchange Program was also designed to produce and save jobs in Massachusetts. All the retailers for the program are in the Commonwealth, and their employees will help with sales, installation of new appliances, and the removal of and environmentally sound recycling of material from old ones.

I encourage you to take a serious look at this program if you are in the market for one or more new appliances. Also, look at the many other ways to save energy and money through the programs of Department of Energy Resources. Shop around early and then reserve your rebates as close to 10 am on April 22nd as you can. Follow all the rules and procedures from the website and call my office at (617) 722-2020 with any questions you may have. Enjoy your savings!