Day to Day

PEPCO Says: Recycle Your Relic!

May 27, 2008

Puget Sound Energy: Time to Unplug!

Your fridge has been humming along nicely for 15, 20, maybe 25 years, and you see no reason to replace it. It works perfectly. Perhaps it’s all-steel avocado green with a curved door and metal handles—a real conversation piece. So spacious. So convenient.

And so expensive. Did you know that you’re throwing away up to $100 every year you keep your old fridge plugged in? Besides your water heater, that old fridge saps more energy than any other appliance in your home.

PEPCO is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to let consumers know: any refrigerator built before 1993 is an energy hog. To lower your energy bill—and protect the environment—recycle that old fridge!

Art lovers and fans of retro “kitsch” will also enjoy the National Building Museum’s National Refrigerator Art Exhibition, "The Art of Recycling,"August 25 through September 2. This exhibit will feature old refrigerators inventively decorated for the ENERGY STAR Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign.

If you need to replace your old unit, look for an ENERGY STAR qualified model to take its place. Most retailers carry ENERGY STAR qualified appliances, and many stores offer rebates. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that helps consumers identify the most energy-efficient products on the market.

Visit www.recyclemyoldfridge.com to calculate exactly how much money your old fridge is costing you, find money-saving incentives for ENERGY STAR qualified models, or locate a recycler or appliance pick-up program near you.