State officials for the third time in the past two years are offering financial incentives for purchases of energy-efficient home appliances.

The N.C. Department of Commerce is offering up to $300 for qualifying appliances bought this year, retroactive to Jan. 1. The incentives will be offered as federal stimulus money is freed up from other programs until the cash runs out.

State officials are intent on using as much of the federal funds as possible so as not to have to return unused grants. The money comes from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and must be used by federally-set deadlines.
 

About half the money the state offered two days ago for energy-efficient appliance rebates is already claimed as North Carolina residents lock in on rebates ranging from $75 to $300 per appliance.

As of late this afternoon, state residents have used up about half the $650,000 available to offset purchases of appliances that carry the federal government's Energy Star rating.

The rebates come from federal stimulus money allocated to states to encourage energy-efficient upgrades. Earlier this year state residents had used up more than $8 million in appliance rebates during the main phase of the program.

North Carolina officials recently found an extra $650,000 in federal stimulus funds that were originally part of North Carolina's $75.9 million State Energy Fund but had gone unspent, so the state asked the U.S. Department of Energy for permission to offer the money in more appliance refunds.

The rebates claimed so far cover Energy Star clothes washers, dishwashers, heat pumps, central air conditioners, gas furnaces, freezers, tankless water heaters and solar water heaters.

Two-thirds of the rebate money available for energy-efficient appliances has been claimed since yesterday morning.

The State Energy Office says that as of 5 p.m., 66 percent of the money -- about $850,000 -- has been claimed by residents seeking to save on Energy Star-rated central AC units, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezes, natural gas furnaces, water heaters and other items.

The offer began Tuesday and will last until the money runs out. Rebates range from $75 to $300, depending on appliance or equipment. Qualifying purchases must be reserved online or by calling 1-877-379-7323. Purchases made before Tuesday will not count.

A fourth of the $1 million-plus the state had set aside for Energy Star-rated appliance rebates has already been snapped up this morning by residents seeking to save money on energy-efficient appliances.

The State Energy Office reports on its web site that 25 percent of the rebate money has been claimed for buying energy-effcient central AC units, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezes, natural gas furnaces, water heaters and other items.

The offer began this morning and will last until the money runs out. Rebates range from $75 to $300, depending on appliance or equipment. Qualifying purchases must be made today or this month and reserved online or by calling 1-877-379-7323. Purchases made before today will not count.

The second round of the Energy Star Appliance Rebate program begins tomorrow, but items that qualify are different. Find out more here.

If you're hoping to cash in on the Energy Star rebate, you better hurry. As of this morning, $4.6 million of the allotted $8.8 million remains for the North Carolina Energy Star Appliance Rebate and Replacement Program. The N.C. State Energy office anticipates that if the current rate of spending $2,000 a minute continues, the funds will be exhausted sooner than anticipated.

More than 430 stores in the state will be offering a 15 percent discount on Energy Star appliances from April 22 to April 25, billed as Earth Day Weekend.

The discount is financed by $8.8 million in federal stimulus funds apportioned to North Carolina for energy efficient appliance sales. Participating stores will cut their price by 15 percent and get reimbursed by the feds. There's no paperwork involved for the customer.

The discount applies to Energy Star refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers and washing machines bought over the four days at the end of this month.

Some stores are pairing the stimulus discount with their own offers.