New Mexico's rebate program to help residents replace older, inefficient appliances with energy-efficient appliances is now under way.

The state began offering mail-in rebates toward the purchase of Energy Star-qualified appliances starting April 22 to coincide with Earth Day.

The program offered $200 rebates on refrigerators, clothes washers and gas furnaces. However, as of June 28, new applications for refrigerator and clothes washer rebates were no longer being accepted.

Rebates for gas furnaces will continue until remaining funds are depleted.

Residents must purchase the appliances from a New Mexico retailer. In order to receive the rebate, the old appliance must be removed from the home and properly recycled.

The rebates will only apply to purchases made after April 22 and will not be retroactive to include previous purchases.

The program is one of 56 State Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs, popularly known as Cash for Appliances, that are being set up in the United States and six U.S. territories with the help of federal stimulus money.

New Mexico will receive about $1.9 million of the nearly $300 million in stimulus funding available nationwide from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

For more information on Cash for Appliances, visit the New Mexico Appliance Refund Program official website.