Vermont residents who act quickly can receive an enhanced incentive reward of $50 for scheduling the free pickup of older, inefficient refrigerators and freezers at their homes this month.
The older appliances are typically kept in garages and basements, but consume much more energy than most people realize.
The incentive will return to its original $30 in September. The increase marks the first anniversary of the program, which was originally launched last summer. Since then, more than 1,800 secondary refrigerators and freezers have been hauled out of garages and basements throughout Vermont.
The incentive program is aimed at helping Vermont electric utility customers save as much as $150 a year through lower electric bills. The vast majority of these secondary, storage units, refrigerators and freezers were manufactured before 1990 and require three times more electricity than newer appliances.
To schedule the pick up of a secondary refrigerator or freezer for recycling, Vermont electric utility customers can call 877-545-4113 or visit www.efficiencyvermont.com. Labor and transportation is provided free. Customers will receive a check for $50 four to six weeks after collection of the appliance.
Efficiency Vermont's program vendor, JACO Environmental, removes the appliances and transports them to its recycling facility in Franklin, Mass., where they are dismantled and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
Approximately 95 percent of each unit is recycled, including metals, plastic, oils and the foam insulation. The foam removed from the appliances contains chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases which, if improperly disposed of can have harmful effects on the ozone. JACO removes and bags the foam and then has it incinerated where the heat generated from that incineration process is then used to create new energy.
Since 2001, federal standards require new refrigerators and freezers to consume less energy. Current models use about 450 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, compared to older units that burn through, on average, 1,500 kWh per year.
The program is limited to the removal of two units per household and available to residential electric customers statewide in Vermont. Appliances to be recycled must be in working order with an inside measurement of 10 cubic feet or more. Residential customers should call or visit the website to see if they are eligible.