Maine Appliance Rebates
For more information, download the Maine state appliance program fact sheet 
.
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The State of Maine is implementing a mail-in rebate program that will help residents replace older, inefficient water heaters and home heating and cooling equipment with new, efficient ENERGY STAR® qualified models. The program began on May 1, 2010, and will run until funds are depleted.
Eligible products include
- Gas tankless water heaters
- Electric heat pump water heaters
- Oil furnaces
- Gas furnaces
- Oil boilers
- Gas boilers
- Central air conditioners
- Air source heat pumps
Residents are required to self-certify haul-away and disposal of old units.
Contact: Efficiency Maine
Total Funding: $1,263,000
Program information subject to change. Rebates may be offered for a limited time only. Before purchasing a product, check with your program sponsor to ensure rebates are available, and to confirm product eligibility and program requirements. Products purchased must meet efficiency criteria as established by the state.
Program Impact:
Maine Fuel Dealers Say Money Is "Flowing"
Rebate Program "Opens the Door to Efficiency"
In addition to providing product rebates, Maine's program opens the door for consumers to better understand energy efficiency.
The Maine Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program is a welcome sign for the 80% of Maine households that use oil. Previous programs have focused on electric energy efficiency, according to Tim Vrabel of Efficiency Maine, but this program provides incentives to replace gas and oil furnaces and boilers. Plus, this federal stimulus of $1.2 million for some 22,000 rebates is opening the door for cooperation with organizations that deal with gas and oil, and these groups are "absolutely delighted," Vrabel adds.
Efficiency Maine, a statewide organization that offers energy efficiency programs, chose moderate yet valuable rebate levels that would prompt people to make a purchase. The rebates won't sell out overnight and will likely last about eight months, predicts Vrabel.
Maine provides rebates for furnaces, boilers, water heaters, central air conditioning, and air-source heat pumps. The state launched the program May 1, 2010. Residents must reserve their rebate, but only after obtaining a sales agreement and contract number with a licensed, participating contractor. "Money is flowing around and it is creating a stimulus," says Jamie Py, president of the Maine Energy Marketers Association (MEMA), an organization of 200 fuel dealers across the state. About 80 residents have already reserved their rebates, and marketing efforts are yet to ramp up.
"People are nervous about spending money. As a stimulus package, it is actually giving people a reason to make a purchase of a more efficient product," says Py. He adds that some dealers match the rebate with an equivalent amount of fuel. "It's a great thing for customers because they use less fuel and save money for next year."
The program is also opening up other efficiency opportunities, according to Vrabel. "When an installer goes into the home, he or she has the chance to talk about increased efficiency, which opens the door to automation, setbacks, talking about what efficiency is all about." Efficiency Maine is working closely with MEMA to develop messaging to help consumers understand efficiency better. "It's not just about the new unit. It's about greater efficiency."
Consumers are benefiting greatly, too. David Greer, a contractor for Efficiency Maine who reaches out to retailers and installers, says both contractors and consumers are excited about this program. A woman who recently made a purchase and received a $300 rebate "thanked me about thirty times in a 5-minute conversation. I was blown away by her gratitude."
State contact: Tim Vrabel, 207-287-7343
DOE contact: Lani MacRae, 202-586-9193
Visit: www.efficiencymaine.com/at-home/appliance_replacement_program and
www.energysavers.gov/rebates