Also, the new dishwashers say they use less energy than doing dishes by hand. Can that really be true? I don't mind doing dishes by hand, but if this is true, then it would be smarter to use a dishwasher AND I would save time. We have a gas water heater. I don't know if that makes a difference. Do these dishwasher heat water themselves or get hot water from our water heater?? Most new dishwashers do use less water than washing dishes by hand. Mine (an ASKO, from Sweden) uses less than five gallons to do a dishload. Given that a kitchen faucet can deliver 2.2 gallons per minute at full force in a house with strong water pressure, even using the water at half-flow in your house means every minute of running the faucet is at least a gallon of water. So you've got five minutes to wash a dishwasherload full of dishes. :-) Most of the high-end (typically European) dishwashers also heat their own water. Some will heat water as hot as 170 degrees, allowing you to leave your water heater at a lower level.

February 25, 2010 2:36 PM CST Appliance Cash for Clunkers set for March debut by Bob Geiger Staff Writer And you thought Cash for Clunkers was dead. Come March 1, a home appliance version of the stimulus program that provided cash to car-buyers trading in their old models is scheduled to start. Designed to save consumers money for buying energy-efficient clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers and refrigerators, nearly $5 million in federal stimulus funding is designed to help Minnesota households save up to $200 for replacing their aging appliance with a qualifying Energy Star model. The Minnesota Trade-in & Save Appliance Rebate Program, operated through the Minnesota Department of CommerceÂs Office of Energy Security (OES), could enable up to 25,000 Minnesota households buy Energy Star appliances. Warners Stellian on Wednesday held a media event with OES and Waste Management Inc. officials to publicize the program. Just like Cash for Clunkers, residents are encouraged to decommission appliances that consume more energy. Eligible appliance and rebate amounts are clothes washers, $200; dishwashers, $150; refrigerators (minimum of 7.75 cubic feet priced over $300), $100 to $200; and freezers, $50 or $100. Advertisement Warners Stellian is not the only OES partner involved in the program. Other utilities or retailers partnering for the energy-efficient appliance replacement effort are Sears Holdings Corp., Best Buy Co. Inc., Whirlpool Corp., BSH Home Appliances, Great River Energy and Minnesota Power. Here is a link that might be useful: Finance & Commerce

I doubt it would be worth waiting. If you can really get 75% off current prices, how many years do you think it would take to recoup that from a slightly more energy efficient fridge? I can tell you how thrilled I am that my DW takes 2 hours to do a load of dishes to save a small amount of water :-)

I'm in FL and have heard about the 20% rebate the state is doing, it is expected to be gone soon on the 16th. I haven't heard that Sears is doing their own 30% off discount as well. The problem I have with Sears is even when they give discounts, they are more than everyone else. I'm needing to buy a new GE Microwave (I know it's not Energy Star) and saw it at Sears two weeks ago with a price of $599 marked down to $525. Lowes has it for $499, but BrandsMart is $375 for the same unit. Since I got the previous GE microwave from BrandsMart and it lasted me almost 8 years, that's where I'll buy this one from. Three years ago when I had the kiten remodeled, I was looking to buy a KitchenAid counter-depth fridge (KSCS25FS). It was $2100 at Sears and $1600 and BrandsMart (Lowes didn't sell it). So you might want to check the price at BandsMart first (if you live near one).