Builders & Manufacturers Incentives
Appliances
What are the tax incentives for high-efficiency appliances?
Manufacturers are eligible for tax credits for qualifying models of dishwashers, clothes washers, and refrigerators. The credits are available for models produced in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Who is eligible for the tax incentives?
Product manufacturers are eligible for the credits. (While consumers cannot take these credits directly, they may see promotion of these models by manufacturers, or by state or utility efficiency programs, during the next two years.)
What are the incentives and how do they work?
Credits are available in a tiered system depending on the efficiency of the model and date of manufacture to manufacturers of clothes washers, refrigerators and dishwashers.
- $75 for residential top-loading models manufactured in 2008 which meet/exceed a 1.72 modified energy factor (MEF) and do not exceed a 8.0 water consumption factor
- $125 for residential top-loading models manufactured in 2008 or 2009 which meet/exceed a 1.8 MEF and do not exceed a 7.5 water consumption factor
- $150 for residential or commercial clothes washers manufactured in 2008, 2009 or 2010 which meet/exceed a 2.0 MEF and do not exceed a 6.0 water consumption factor
- $250 for residential or commercial models manufactured in 2008, 2009 or 2010 which meet/exceed a 2.2 MEF and do not exceed a 4.5 water consumption factor
- $50 for models manufactured in 2008 which consume at least 20% but not more than 22.9% fewer kilowatt hours per year than the 2001 energy conservation standards
- $75 for models manufactured in 2008 or 2009 that consume at least 23% but no more than 24.9% fewer kilowatt hours per year than the 2001 energy conservation standards
- $100 for models manufactured in 2008, 2009 or 2010 consuming at least 25% but not more than 29.9% fewer kilowatt hours per year than the 2001 energy conservation standards
- $200 in the case of models manufactured in 2008, 2009 or 2010 which consume at least 30% less energy than the 2001 energy conservation standards
- $45 for dishwashers manufactured in 2008 or 2009 which use no more than 324 kilowatt hours per year and 5.8 gallons of water per cycle
- $ 75 for dishwashers manufactured in 2008, 2009 or 2010 which use no more than 307 kilowatt hours per year and 5.0 gallons of water per cycle (5.5 gallons per cycle for dishwashers designed for greater than 12 place settings)
The credit to manufacturers of qualifying clothes washers, refrigerators and dishwashers is capped at $75 million for the period of 2008-2010. Exception to the cap: the most efficient refrigerator (30%) and clothes washer (2.2 MEF/4.5 wcf) models described above are not subject to the cap.
What do I have to do to qualify for these incentives?
Only manufacturers can qualify directly for the credits. (However, consumers may benefit by knowing which models qualify, because they may be subject to special promotions.)
Where can I learn more about qualifying products?
For information on high-efficiency appliances:
Refrigerators
- Energy Star - This database includes information on how much each model exceeds the federal standard and hence can be used to determine which incentive tier a model falls under.
- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Clothes Washers
Dishwashers
