By Kristen Hawley

Hoping to simultaneously stimulate appliance sales and decrease wasteful energy usage, a government-passed stimulus package providing rebates to consumers who swap out older, less efficient appliances for newer Energy Star-approved appliances is expected to take effect later this year.

Qualifying appliances include air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators, dishwashers and other large appliances, with rebates between $50 and $200. And, unlike the recent “cash for clunkers” auto stimulus plan, you don’t’ have to turn in an energy hogging appliance to get the rebate – though with a brand-new Energy Star, why keep an outdated, inefficient clunker?

Each state’s plan is different, but all 50 are participating. State agencies and local utility companies will determine each state’s details, though it is a federally-funded program. Similar to “cash for clunkers,” there is an end-date for states to exhaust their funding: February 2012. The details of the program are still being worked out, and it’s not clear if past purchases will retroactively count toward a rebate. To stay up-to-date on the latest news pertaining to the rebate program, check with your state’s energy office.

To be considered energy efficient, an appliance must be significantly more efficent than the minimum government standard. Standards vary by appliance. The benefits of choosing energy-efficient don’t end there — less energy used means lower utility bills!

Get more tips on reducing energy consumption at home.