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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Kitchen Furnishings: Be Gone With The Aged, In With The Cutting-Edge

/ On : 2:35 AM

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By Vivian Summers

Is your old kitchen starting to make you sick just to look at? Then you should probably consider some new money-saving appliances to make it seem like a whole new place.

In a short space of time you can revamp it just by changing your old insipid and dull-looking appliances with some brand new colorful ones.

If you've been eying a new refrigerator or range, or wishing for a quieter dishwasher, there's another reason to look at appliances as your remodeling option. Depending on how much energy they consume, you are most likely to get a rebate if you choose appliances that are Energy Star rated, and all as a result of the 'cash for appliances' program. As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, this program is federally funded with $300 million, but its regulation may differ from one state to another.

Before shopping for new appliances, check information from your state, easily done with an internet search engine, and see which appliances qualify and how much the rebates will be. In some cases rebates are deducted as a percentage of the cost, in others they are an already set amount that may vary, depending on the appliance, from $50 to $200 per item as dictated by the Department of Energy.

Unfortunately, residents of several states will have to wait for the program to be initiated until later this year. For example, Oklahoma will begin its program April 22 and is limiting rebates to one per appliance and two per household. The state is also requiring that the old appliances be removed and properly disposed of, which is not a requirement nationwide. In several states, like Minnesota for instance, this program was initiated earlier this year and the funds allocated for it have already been exhausted.

Don't let the availability of rebate funding determine whether this is the right change for your kitchen, however. New appliances are a good investment even if they don't come with federal funding.

If you replace older appliances with Energy Star qualified models, you can not only give your kitchen a new look, you can save every month on your electricity bill. Only consider how much electricity a refrigerator will eat up, as it is the third largest energy-consumer in a household, and you'll see the wisdom of buying a newer model.

Even though rebates in your state may be limited to refrigerators and dishwashers, it wouldn't be a bad idea if you included a new stove which is around $600 more or less and can make a significant change in the appearance of your kitchen. The change cannot only be cheaper than new cabinets, walls or floors, but is also one that is quick and painless. Another advantage to replacing the appliances in your kitchen is that all you need to do is go to the store, buy them and arrange for their delivery, as opposed to an overall remodeling that implies days or even weeks of having a construction site in your home, not to mention the search for a competent contractor. In but a few hours you can have a brand new kitchen, no mess and no stress. - 24553

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