The US Cash for Appliances for scheme

I blogged a few days ago about Mick Williams's campaign for a boiler scrappage scheme in the UK that would offer money to householders to replace their old boilers with new, high efficiency units.

A somewhat similar scheme is about to kick off in the US. The US Department of Energy's Cash for Appliances programme will fund rebates to consumers purchasing energy efficient appliances, and is backed by $300m of funding. The new appliances must be certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program - an award mark for energy efficient appliances. Individual states will decide which appliances are eligible, and the level of rebate. The Department of Energy has recommended they focus on heating and cooling equipment such as heat pumps, boilers, washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and freezers.

Unlike the proposed boiler scrappage programme and "cash for clunkers" car scrappage schemes, there is no requirement to trade in old appliances. Rebates are expected to be between $50 and $200.