Minnesota Appliance Rebates

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The Trade-in & Save Appliance Program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will offer approximately 25,450 Minnesota homeowners a rebate for replacing their old appliance with a qualifying ENERGY STAR model purchased from a Minnesota retailer. Rebates are not retroactive for purchases made outside the program timeframe of March 1st - March 31st, 2010 and this rebate does not apply to commercial endeavors including rental properties.
Minnesota's allocation of $5,009,000 includes rebates on:
• 6,035 clothes washers ($200 rebate)
• 6,005 dishwashers ($150 rebate)
• 1,999 freezers ($100 rebate with purchase and “proof of recycling”; $50 for purchase only)
• 11,411 refrigerators ($200 rebate with purchase and “proof of recycling”; $100 for purchase only)

Homeowners will be limited to one rebate for a single appliance purchase (maximum of $200 per household). Once a reservation for a rebate is made, the resident will have 17 days to purchase, recycle and submit their rebate application.

The program-specific website www.mnappliancerebate.com will be launched February 1st (containing information only) until the rebate reservation system opens on March 1st.

Consumer Energy Tax Incentives
What the Economic Stabilization Bill Means to You

Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

The recently passed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343) included, extended and/or amended many consumer tax incentives originally introduced in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT). The bill also included tax incentives for businesses, utilities, and government. Below is a listing of many of the tax credits available to consumers.

Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits
Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, up to $1,500 in 2009 and 2010 for existing homes only for:
• Energy Efficient Windows and Doors
• Insulation
• Roofs (Metal and Asphalt)
• Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
• Water Heaters (non-solar)
• Biomass Stoves

Renewable Energy Tax Credits
Tax credits are available at 30% of cost, with no limit through 2016 for existing homes and new construction for:
• Geothermal Heat Pumps
• Solar Panels
• Solar Water Heaters
• Small Wind Energy Systems
• Fuel Cells

Please check with the Energy Star web site and with your accountant to see if your project qualifies for a tax rebate before starting it.

For a complete summary of the tax incentives included in the Emergency Stabilization Act of 2008 bill, read the summary of Energy Tax Incentives in The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Tax Credits for Home Builders
Home builders are eligible for a $2,000 tax credit for a new energy efficient home that achieves 50% energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code. At least 1/5 of the energy savings must come from building envelope improvements.

These tax credits apply to new homes located in the United States whose construction is substantially completed after August 8, 2005 and that are acquired from the eligible contractor for use as a residence from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2009.

Please see the Energy Star web site for more information:

Tax Deductions for Commercial Buildings
A tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot is available to owners or designers of new or existing commercial buildings that save at least 50% of the heating and cooling energy of a building that meets ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001. Partial deductions of up to $.60 per square foot can be taken for measures affecting any one of three building systems: the building envelope, lighting, or heating and cooling systems. These tax deductions are available for systems “placed in service” from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2013.

To get more details on the tax deductions for commercial buildings, please check out these links:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#s4

http://www.efficientbuildings.org/

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/qualified_software.html