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Guidance and Materials for the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

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Here you will find the guidance documents, budgeting spreadsheets, and supporting materials for state energy offices to administer the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. You will find links to these resources in the sections below:

On July 14, 2009, DOE announced that it was making $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act available to states and overseas U.S. territories to promote the purchase of ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. Under this program, called the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP), states can give consumers rebates for replacing old appliances with new energy-efficient models. Read the DOE press release announcing SEEARP funding.

The purpose of SEEARP is to save energy and stimulate the economy at the same time. You can read more about energy efficiency funding from the Recovery Act on the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Web site.

Program Guidance Documents

DOE has provided a variety of program guidance to help states apply for and receive SEEARP funding. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

  • State Allocations (PDF 24 KB)
    Find the SEEARP funding allocation for your state or U.S. territory (based on population); July 14, 2009.

  • Program Overview (PDF 484 KB)
    Presentation via Webinar on SEEARP to a meeting of state energy officials on July 23, 2009.

  • Program Design Seminar for State Energy Offices (PDF 396 KB)
    Presentation via Webinar on technical assistance available to state energy offices for administering SEEARP on August 27, 2009.

  • Questions and Answers About SEEARP (PDF 188 KB)
    Read 39 questions and answers that DOE posted on FedConnect; August 12, 2009.

  • SEEARP Funding Opportunity Announcement (PDF 1 MB)
    DOE released the SEEARP Funding Opportunity Announcement on July 14, 2009.

Applications and Tools for Preparing Program Applications and Budgets

In order to participate in the program, each state energy office must submit a plan to DOE that includes the list of covered products, the rebate amounts, and the process for consumers to apply for rebates. State plans are due to DOE by October 15, 2009.

SEEARP Timeline
Initial applications due August 15, 2009
Initial 10% awarded to states September 30
Program plans due to DOE October 15
Remaining funds awarded November 30
Funds expended February 2012

You can download the grant application package under number DE-FOA-0000119 at Grants.gov.

  • Application Completion Guidance (PDF 182 KB)
    Follow these instructions from DOE when filling out your SEEARP program plan and budget; September 11, 2009

  • Program Plan Narrative (MS Word 111 KB)
    Use this template to fill out the SEEARP program plan for your state; September 11, 2009.

  • Budget Detail Package (Excel 123 KB)
    This document (version 1.1) replaces the budget form (SF-424A) for non-construction programs; September 22, 2009.

  • Program Planning Spreadsheet (Excel 886 KB)
    Use this spreadsheet tool to calculate your rebate budget and potential energy savings; September 9, 2009.

ENERGY STAR Market Data and Reports

DOE also provides other technical resources to help states and U.S. territories develop and implement their SEEARP activities.

  • New Opportunities to Multiply Savings: Refrigerator Market Profile 2009 (PDF 2.4 MB)
    This report provides detailed market profiles—including market share and energy and cost savings potentials—for ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators; September 16, 2009

  • New Technologies, New Savings: Water Heater Market Profile 2009 (PDF 3.8 MB)
    This report provides detailed market profiles—including market share and energy and cost savings potentials—for ENERGY STAR qualified water heaters; September 16, 2009.

  • ENERGY STAR Guide to Residential Appliance Programs, Fall 2009 (PDF 2.9 MB)
    This document summarizes incentive programs offered by utilities and other program sponsors for ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and room air conditioners; September 16, 2009.

  • 2008 ENERGY STAR Appliance Retail Sales Data (Excel 144 KB)
    ENERGY STAR publishes annually this report for its utility partners that lists 2008 sales data by state, U.S. Census region, and national totals for ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and room air conditioners.

State energy offices may find these additional links helpful.

  • Join the ENERGY STAR Program (PDF 146 KB)
    States can join the ENERGY STAR program as an Energy Efficiency Program Sponsor at no cost to gain access to the ENERGY STAR label and other marketing tools.

  • ENERGY STAR Database of Utility Rebate Programs
    ENERGY STAR publishes this online "Database for Incentives for Joint Marketing Exchange," for appliance manufacturers, retailers, utilities, and state energy offices to find opportunities to join with other organizations to market ENERGY STAR appliances.

  • Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
    Find a comprehensive list of incentives in your state (plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands).

  • Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
    ENERGY STAR publishes this online listing of federal tax credits for consumers and homeowners for purchasing energy efficient equipment and installing small renewable energy systems on their homes.