Remember about one year ago, when the Minnesota appliance rebate program was launched? So many residents wanted to upgrade their dishwashers and freezers that the website crashed and the $5 million was reserved in a single day. The program was reopened a couple of times as residents who reserved rebates failed to redeem them. Still, there was more demand than funds available.

Warners' Stellian remembers the frenzy, and has decided to offer a rebate program of its own, which it's calling the "2011 Appliance Stimulus." There's no state involvement in this deal.

Unlike the state program, which excluded non-Energy Star rated appliances such as stoves and dryers, Warners' Stellian is offering rebates on those purchases too.

Julie Warner, spokeswoman for Warners' Stellian, said that the store rebates can also be paired with manufacturer's rebates. It's also worth a look at the Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency to see if there are other conservation-focused offers available.

That said, it almost never makes sense to buy a big ticket item just because of a rebate. If you're trying to decide between repairing an appliance and replacing it, the New York Times has a good story. My recent experience when my five-year-old dishwasher died was that the repair would cost close to the price of a new, quieter and more energy efficient appliance. So I reluctantly let them haul away the broken model, destined for the junkyard (or refurbishment, perhaps?).

If you're trying to figure out whether upgrading to an energy-efficient appliance is a smart money move, take a look at this Bankrate article.

The rebates begin February 26 and end March 6. Sample rebates include:

$150 rebate on a refrigerator which costs between $1,000 to $1,4999

$100 rebate on a dishwasher which costs between $499 and $999

$200 for a cooking appliance which costs more than $1,500

$50 for a freezer which costs between $299 and $499

$50 for a vacuum which costs more than $399