ARCA Press Release

ApplianceSmart Factory Outlet and Appliance Recycling Centers of America Gearing Up for Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program
March 31, 2010
San Antonio, Texas

ApplianceSmart Factory Outlet and Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (ARCA) are gearing up for the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program, which kicks off on Wednesday, April 7. The program is funded by more than $23 million allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program encourages residents to replace old but operating appliances with new ENERGY STAR® or CEE (Consortium for Energy Efficiency) qualified models to stimulate the economy and bolster energy conservation. Texas consumers can receive rebates of $240 for refrigerators, $180 for freezers, $45 for room air conditioners, up to $180 for clothes washers, and up to $140 for dishwashers. Qualifying central air conditioners, air source heat pumps and water heaters are also eligible for a wide range of rebates.

Consumers can reserve applications beginning at 7 a.m. (CT) on April 7 to receive rebates for purchasing qualifying appliances from Texas retailers between April 16 and April 25, 2010. Residents can apply for two rebates per address in two different appliance categories. New appliances must be installed and paperwork submitted within 60 days of the rebate reservation.

Brad Bremer, Vice President of Retail Operations for ApplianceSmart, a subsidiary of ARCA, said: “Consumers are really excited about the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program, and we are encouraging people to visit the state’s website at www.TexasPowerfulSmart.org or calling 1-877-780-3039 early on April 7 to reserve their rebates. Because we have seen a lot of interest in the program from consumers, we anticipate that funds will be depleted quickly.

“ApplianceSmart is offering an additional in-store instant rebate of 15% on all models that qualify for the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program. To meet increased consumer demand, we have boosted our inventory of ENERGY STAR® and CEE qualified refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, washers and dishwashers at both of our San Antonio factory outlets. Because all of our appliances are available to take home immediately, we are expecting a sharp increase in store traffic from consumers who need their new appliance the same day they buy. Through ARCA, the recycling segment of our business, we also provide recycling services that can earn consumers additional rebates for recycling their old appliances.”

Providing proof that a replaced appliance has been recycled earns an additional rebate of $75 for the consumer. ARCA, the parent company of ApplianceSmart, is a premier international provider of environmentally sound appliance recycling services, which ApplianceSmart offers at no charge to its customers when a new appliance is purchased. ApplianceSmart can haul the old appliance away when the new one is delivered, or a customer can drop off his or her old appliance at ApplianceSmart when purchasing a new one. ARCA and ApplianceSmart will ensure that the old appliance is properly recycled and will provide the certification of recycling required for rebate eligibility.

San Antonio ApplianceSmart Factory Outlets

For Additional Information Contact:                                 Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, CEO or
                                                                                   Brad Bremer, Vice President of Retail
                                                                                   (952) 930-9000

About ARCA
ARCA (www.arcainc.com) is one of the nation’s largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities. The Company is also the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of technologically advanced refrigerator recycling systems and recycling facilities for electrical household appliances and electronic scrap. Through its ApplianceSmart operation (www.appliancesmart.com), ARCA also is one of the nation’s leading retailers of special-buy household appliances, primarily those manufactured by Maytag, GE, Frigidaire and Whirlpool. Special-buy appliances, which include close-outs and factory overruns, typically are not integrated into the manufacturer’s normal distribution channel. ApplianceSmart sells these new appliances at a discount to full retail, offers a 100% money-back guarantee and provides warranties on parts and labor. As of March 2010, ApplianceSmart was operating 19 factory outlets: six in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market; one in Rochester, Minn., market, four in the Columbus, Ohio, market; six in the Atlanta market; and two in San Antonio, Texas.