Spend Tax Rebate Wisely | Green Energy News

April 6, 2008 – Vol.13 No. 3

SPEND TAX REBATE WISELY: SPEND TO SAVE ENERGY.

Starting in May some 130 million US taxpayers will begin receiving rebate checks from the Internal Revenue Service. The checks, ranging from $300 up to a couple of thousand or so depending on family size, are part of an economic stimulus plan to get the country’s economy moving forward again. The checks will encourage spending and give the country a jump-start, Washington politicians say, and America will be on its merry way once again: Recession fixed, mission accomplished.

Yeah right.

Most likely people will use the money to pay down credit card bills or for those with less debt, spend it on a vacation or some frivolous personal gift like a 52-inch Asian-made flat screen TV.

Wiser folks might consider this: If a gift is what’s wanted for themselves why not a gift that keeps on giving? Why not invest the rebate in energy savings? High energy costs are part of the reason the US is in a funk. Using the money to save energy will continue save money on a regular basis for years; possibly save more the cost of the initial energy saving purchase.

And, there are other benefits beyond being personally thrifty with energy: To some small extent the environment is improved as greenhouse gases and pollution are cut; the nation as a whole gets slightly less dependent on imported petroleum fuels; and in some cases energy savings creates jobs right here at home.

Here are some ideas for an energy savings wish list:

– Put the rebate towards a down payment on a new or used vehicle that gets better fuel economy than the one you have now. It doesn’t have to be a hybrid, just more efficient. The savings in fuel will last as long as you own the vehicle. A new car or truck built in the US will help preserve jobs at home which helps the economy as a whole. The EPA / Department of Energy Fuel Economy website has fuel economy ratings going back more than a decade if you want to check the expected mileage of a used vehicle.

– Buy a house full of energy efficient light bulbs. For lights switched on and off frequently Halogen Energy Savers (HES) bulbs are a good bet. Philips and Osram sell them. Check the package carefully for HES labeling. Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs are best in fixtures that are on for long periods of time. Light emitting diode (LED) replacement bulbs are quite expense, but last longer than CFLs and don’t have the hazardous metal disposal problem that CFLs have. You might splurge on one or two LED bulbs just for fun. Search the web for LED suppliers.

Lighting Science Group just announced more LED bulbs in their web store so look there too. I’m guessing that most light bulbs of all kinds are made outside the US, but you can check the package to see if you’re helping the American job situation by purchasing home grown.

– Buy outright or use the rebate towards an Energy Star Appliance. A new fridge, washer, dryer, dishwasher will save money over its lifetime. Many appliances sold in the US, if not most, are made in the US. Energy Star appliances are generally well marked in stores and in the Web outlets. You’ll be helping out the jobs situation in the US at the manufacturer, at the store you bought it from, and with the installer.

– Buy outright or put a down payment on a new water heater. Sure they’re not as much fun to buy as a car or appliance (Americans do love to shop) but it will save money over the long haul. Specifically look for an on-demand / tankless design. Traditional water heaters make hot water whether you need it or not, wasting energy. The devices are available in gas or electric in lots of sizes and capacities, by many manufacturers. Search the Web.

General Electric, by the way, has entered the on-demand / tankless market with two gas fired models, 7.5-gallon-per-minute flow and 9.4 gallon-per-minute flow models for indoor and outdoor installation. The new Energy Star rated water heaters should save 25 percent in energy costs, says GE.

GE is also developing what it’s calling the GE Hybrid Electric Water Heater. It’s designed to absorb heat in ambient air and transfer it into the water saving half the electricity as a traditional electric resistance hot water heater/ The Hybrid could save $250 a year. But you’d have to keep your rebate cash under your mattress (where it’s safe) for almost two years. The Hybrid won’t be available until the last quarter of ‘09.

Some of the on-demand / tankless water heaters might be made in the US, helping out in the job market. Of course you’ll be paying a local installer.

– Use the rebate towards a down payment on a new heating and air conditioning system for your home. Savings could be extended 15, 20 years or more, the life of the machine. Nearly all HVAC equipment for US homes is made in the US and of course you won’t be outsourcing the installation overseas.

– There are numerous other energy saving things you can buy with your rebate: a flat-screen monitor for your computer, an electric or battery powered lawn mower, more insulation for your attic, a solar powered attic vent fan, storm doors, storm windows, ceiling fans, light-blocking blinds to name a few.

– On a grander scale the rebate could add to a down payment for a solar or small wind system for your home.

Depending where you live, your state or utility company may have incentives that could help defray the cost of your energy efficient purchases further. The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy keeps track of many of these.

Links:

DOE/EPA Fuel Economy
http://www.fueleconomy.gov

Energy Star
http://www.energystar.gov

GE Appliances
http://www.geappliances.com

Lighting Science Group
http://www.lsgc.com

Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy
http://www.dsireusa.org

Edison’s Lamp Shines On.

The End of Traditional Hot Water Heaters?