Recycling an old refrigerator can save enough energy to power a typical home for 45 days (Photo: USDA)

Southern California Edison (SCE) recently announced it has recycled 700,000 refrigerators since initiating its Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling Program 15 years ago. SCE pays customers $50 to scrap their old refrigerator or freezer and another $50 toward the purchase of a new ENERGY STAR qualified model. “Most people don’t realize that they’re spending about $300 a year to keep that six-pack of soda cold in that spare fridge,” says Gene Rodrigues, SCE’s director of energy efficiency. If your refrigerator was purchased before 1993, it is likely using up to 50% more electricity than a new ENERGY STAR qualified model. The refrigerator is often the single-largest energy consumer in your home, especially if you don’t have a lot of electronics, accounting for about 18% of the electricity use in a typical California home, according to SCE. For more information, call (800) 234-9722 or visit www.sce.com/save.

• Read background
• Find info on Pacific Gas and Electric Company and San Diego Gas & Electric refrigerator recycling programs
• Related: Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator
• Related: “‘eCube’ Can Trim Refrigerator Energy Consumption by 35% or More” (e-Newswire, 4/04/07)
• Related: “‘Magnetic Fridge’ Could Be 40% More Efficient Than Conventional Models” (e-Newswire, 5/03/06)
• Read more about energy-efficient refrigerators
• Find rebates, incentives and services for your home, searchable by ZIP code, with Flex Your Power’s Rebate Locator