Home Assessment Tool from Focus on Energy
Interested in knowing how energy efficient your home is? Simply use the Home Assessment Tool from Focus on Energy to see how energy efficient your home is. Once you’ve completed all the easy to answer questions you can receive a report via email detailing suggestions for efficiency improvements and money saving energy tips. If you wish to pursue energy efficiency improvements, you can forward the report to a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR authorized consultant to conduct a home energy audit and help get you started on your projects.
Watch a short three minute video about Home Performance with ENERGY STAR to learn more about the program.
We regularly feature energy savings tips to help Milwaukee area consumers reduce their utility bill. Follow this link to see all of our previous energy savings tips.
Wisconsin State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Program
Focus on Energy has released more information on the Wisconsin State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate program (which some people are calling “cash for clunker appliances”). The cash back rewards will be effective January 1, 2010 and can be claimed by completing a mail-in reward form.
If you are in need of one of the following eligible appliances, it may be to your benefit to wait until after January 1st to purchase the appliance so you can take advantage of the rebate:
- Heating & Cooling Equipment:
- Boilers – $200
- Central air conditioners & Air-source Heat Pumps- $75
- Furnaces (oil and gas) – $200
- Geothermal Heat pumps – $75
- Appliances
- Clothes washers – $100
- Dishwashers – $25
- Freezers – $50
- Refrigerators – $75
- Water heaters – $150 (Electric heat pump water heaters – $50)
- Renewable Energy
- Solar hot water – $2,000
We’ll post another update when Focus on Energy releases more information on the energy efficiency requirements for each appliance. For more information, visit the Focus on Energy site for this program that is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Every Wednesday we highlight an energy savings tip to help Milwaukee area consumers reduce their utility bill. Follow this link to see all of our previous energy savings tips.
Update on Cash for Clunker Appliances in Wisconsin
According to Focus on Energy, they have been selected to administer the state run rebate programs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or what some people are referring to as the “Cash for Clunker Appliances” program. Focus on Energy anticipates that rebates will be available for Wisconsin consumers starting in January 2010. Wisconsin has been allocated $5.4 million for this rebate program.
A common question right now is if the rebates will be retroactive. The answer is no. Purchases made prior to the start date of the rebate program will not be eligible. Therefore, if you are considering purchasing an appliance and you have time to spare, it may be of benefit to you to delay your purchase until more details of this program are released.
Details of the program are not yet available, but eligible ENERGY STAR appliances may include:
- Boilers
- Central air conditioners
- Clothes washers
- Dishwashers
- Freezers
- Furnaces (oil and gas)
- Heat pumps (air source and geothermal)
- Refrigerators
- Room air conditioners
- Water heaters
Every Wednesday we highlight an energy savings tip to help Milwaukee area consumers reduce their utility bill. Follow this link to see all of our previous energy savings tips.
Current Energy Star Rebates for Wisconsin Residents
As we’ve mentioned before, the Energy Star Rebate Finder is a great resource to check before you purchase just about any major item for your home.
Current rebate offers include:
- Wisconsin Focus on Energy $15 mail-in rebate for light fixtures and ceiling fans.
- Wisconsin Focus on Energy $50 mail-in rebate for high efficiency gas storage water heaters.
- Wisconsin Focus on Energy $100 mail-in rebate for whole home gas tankless water heaters.
- Dacor refrigerators and freezers – possible savings of up to $4,670.
- ASKO dishwaher $100 mail-in rebate.
- Wisconsin Focus on Energy $30 mail-in rebate for LED fixtures.
- Buy two or more GE Profile or GE Cafe appliances (dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, etc…) and receive a $100 to $500 prepaid Visa card based on the number of products purchased.
- Bosch Home Appliances Corporation dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers – receive $100 to $300 mail-in rebate depending on product purchased.
- Electrolux Home Products mail in rebate of $30 to $150 if upgrading to a Frigidaire appliance, including dishwashers, side by side and top-mount refrigerators, front-load clothes washers, and laundry centers.
- Wisconsin Focus on Energy natural gas condensing water heater $150 mail-in rebate.
For more details on any of these offers, visit the Energy Star Rebate Finder.
Every Wednesday we highlight an energy savings tip to help Milwaukee area consumers reduce their utility bill. Follow this link to see all of our previous energy savings tips.
Save Money with LED Christmas Lights
According to Focus On Energy, light emitting diode (LED) lights use up to 90% less energy than standard holiday lights. Focus on Energy states that ENERGY STAR qualified LED lights are also longer lasting, more convenient, safer, and sturdier. With all of these benefits, there may be a reason to consider replacing your existing Christmas lights with an energy efficient option.
We took a look on Amazon.com at the selection of LED Christmas lights that were available and found a wide variety of indoor and outdoor lights. One set of lights that caught our eye was the Good Tidings LED C7 Warm White Christmas Light Set
Or, if you’d like to shop around town, according to Focus on Energy, Menards, Stein Garden and Gifts, and True Value stores currently have an in-store coupon for $3 off the purchase of ENERGY STAR qualified LED lights now through December 31st or while supplies last. See the Focus on Energy website for a full list of stores throughout Wisconsin.
Every Wednesday we highlight an energy savings tip to help Milwaukee area consumers reduce their utility bill. Follow this link to see all of our previous energy savings tips.