Incentive can be worth the initiative

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Cindy Parker

What is an incentive? Is it a noun, a verb, an idea? Various definitions include the words encouragement, initiative, motivation, enticement. Different words with similar meanings. It’s a conditional arrangement, an “if – then” situation.

IF you get a new refrigerator, THEN you can get a rebate.
If you get a new refrigerator, then you can get a rebate and you can get paid to have your old, working refrigerator taken away.

How many ways and through how many resources can you find incentives to upgrade your home or business equipment? First, you’ve got to realize – they don’t just come knocking at your door with cash in hand. This is the part where you may have to do a little homework. The funds are out there. The success of the utility company energy savings and rebate programs in 2009 has resulted in continued funding and, in some cases, more cash back per “initiative.”

Back to that refrigerator – at a seminar last week, a DTE Energy representative said that some of the biggest energy users still “lurking in the corners” of basements, barns, garages and other various “man caves” – the revered old refrigerators that are primarily used for adult beverages (a.k.a. beer coolers). Many of these are dinosaurs that have been passed down a generation and have “sentimental” value to their owners. Yes, they still work – and may continue to keep you cool and refreshed for another ten years, but your daily cost of operation is ridiculous for these artifacts compared with newer refrigerators. It’s not that an extra refrigerator is a bad idea, but keeping the old clunkers is just not cost effective.

Add it up.

Daily electrical cost to operate “old faithful” versus a new Energy Star rated refrigerator.
Rebate money to help make a lower purchase price for the new refrigerator.
Cash back from the utility company when they take away the old functioning dinosaur.

This is cold cash for cool clunkers. Where do you get the incentives?
On the government website, www.EnergyStar.gov, go to the “Rebates” page and put in your postal zip code. You can select the box for “Refrigerators/Freezers” and a list of resources will be displayed.

Set up an appointment to have your dinosaur hauled away and receive $40 from DTE Energy or $30 from Consumer’s Energy. See the “Recycle” pages on their respective websites; www.DTEEnergy.com and www.ConsumersEnergy.com. Both Edison and Consumer’s are offering additional cash to pick up old dehumidifiers and room air conditioners if scheduled during the refrigerator haul-away.

In this case, you do need some initiative to receive an incentive.