Sears helps consumers find rebates for energy-efficient appliances

Sears Holdings Corp. is using its Web site to help consumers find rebates and other incentives for buying energy-efficient appliances, and is encouraging more consumers to recycle their old appliances.

Although Illinois and most other states' "cash for clunkers" programs for appliances -- similar to the "cash for clunkers" auto trade-ins -- won't go into effect until next year, incentives to buy "green" appliances are being offered by select municipalities, manufacturers and utility companies.

Go to Sears.com/energystar to sign up for an email notice to be signalled when Illinois and Indiana gain approval from the federal government for their proposals to operate "cash for clunkers" appliance programs. You may also click into "visit energystar.gov" to search by ZIP code to find out about any other available incentives.

The Hoffman Estates-based retailer also offers energy-efficiency tips and product information at sears.com/green.

Illinois' "cash for clunkers" appliance proposal calls for a rebate at the time of sale on appliances that meet so-called Energy Star standards, which indicates they meet U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency efficiency standards. The program is expected to start in spring 2010, said a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Indeed, most states are expected to time their "cash for clunkers" appliance programs with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in April 2010.

Sears also hopes to make the most of its status as the only retailer to adhere to EPA standards for recycling appliances that contain

chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons, called the Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD). That's because many states are proposing as part of their "cash for clunkers" appliance programs an additional incentive to consumers who responsibly dispose of their old, inefficient appliances, and Sears could give consumers certification of the proper disposal, said Doug Moore, president of Sears Appliances division.

Sears already takes away old appliances at the customer's request when its crews deliver new appliances to people's homes. The retailer hopes in the future to offer that service to people who didn't buy their appliances at Sears, Moore said.

ComEd also has an appliance-recycling program. The utility gives people a $25 check if they get rid of an old appliance, like a back-up or secondary refrigerator or freezer. ComEd contracts with a hauling service to take away the old appliance and recycle it.

Separately, Sears announced Wednesday at an appliance showcase that it will become the exclusive seller of high-end Jenn-Air appliances at 255 of its Sears stores, starting in mid-November.

Though Sears offers layaway and zero-percent financing every day to help low-income consumers, the retailer also counts among its shoppers one-third of the country's families who earn $250,000 or more yearly, said Steve Brown, general manager for Jenn-Air, based in Benton Harbor, Mich.

A Jenn-Air wall oven that sits flush with cabinets and includes a "no-pre-heat" feature, a touch screen control panel and an interactive

culinary center that shows high-resolution photos of what the food should look like when prepared, say, medium-well, costs $4,899.

Whirlpool, which purchased Jenn-Air with its takeover of Maytag three years ago, has researched its target audience and discovered upper-income families who like to entertain, are comfortable with technology and want to upgrade their appliances, Brown said.