The state of Arizona is taking a nice approach to curbing energy use by offering consumers a fixed dollar amount for any older appliances they are looking to replace. The Arizona Rebates for Appliances program launched early this morning and was greeted with a substantial amount of interest from Arizona residents. According to the official website for the program, residents who retrofit their kitchen with appliances that have the EnergyStar certification are eligible for a rebate. The rebate is sent to the resident’s home in the form of a Prepaid card, which can be used as a conventional debit card. The state has divided the rebate program into three separate categories – clothes washers, dishwashers, and water heaters. At the time of this writing, the funding available to the latter two categories had been exhausted. If you are intending to replace your clothes washer, you can still get your name on the waiting list to receive anywhere between $125-$200. The amount will vary depending on the Energy Star efficiency rating of each device. It is unclear whether the state plants to extend the program.

It would be nice to see more states follow in Arizona’s footsteps to give people an incentive to swap out their inefficient appliances for modern day efficient counterparts. With money very tight right now, the incentive aspect makes the proposition much more lucrative. Even without it, the fact that you can save several dollars a month makes the investment well worth it. You can make back the several hundred you spend on a dishwasher or washing machine after a few years of purchase. If you’re reading this now and need to get rid of your old clothes washer, head to the official Rebates website now to get on the waiting list. You have nothing to lose except that inefficient machine. The application is as brief as can be, so it will only take you a few minutes.