CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Many households have them: The 20-year-old freezer in the garage that's seldom used, or that old clunker of a refrigerator collecting dust – and using lots of energy – in the basement.
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"The potential to save money and energy – and even earn extra cash – can be found in recycling outdated, secondary refrigerators and freezers that are in working condition located throughout your home," said John Langston, program manager for Duke Energy's appliance recycling program.
Unplugging and properly disposing of these energy-hogging dinosaurs through recycling can save money, reduce energy demand and environmental impact, and possibly delay the need for Duke Energy to build new power plants:
- The technology inside old refrigerators and freezers is often so outdated it requires three times more electricity to operate compared to newer models.
- Unplugging and properly recycling old refrigerators and freezers can save up to $150 annually on a customer's energy bill.
- A 20-year-old refrigerator or freezer consumes up to 1,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually; a new refrigerator or freezer consumes between 400-500 kWh annually.
- The avoidance of carbon dioxide emissions as a result of recycling 25,000 refrigerators is equal to removing 50,000 cars from the road for a year.
Duke Energy partners with the country's largest appliance recyclers to offer free refrigerator and freezer recycling.
As an added benefit, Duke Energy customers receive an incentive check for up to $50 that arrives within four to six weeks of their scheduled appliance pickup, Langston said. Refrigerators and freezers must be in working condition and between 10 and 30 cubic feet in size.
For more information, customers in Duke Energy service areas can call 855-398-6200 or visit duke-energy.com/recycle. Customers in Progress Energy service areas can call 800-599-5798 or visit progress-energy.com/arp.
Persons who are not Duke Energy customers can check with their local power provider or their community's waste department to learn about appliance recycling options.
"Take a quick survey of your home to discover just some of the benefits of appliance recycling," Langston pointed out. "Computers, mobile phones, nails and more are all made from the recycled parts of refrigerators and freezers.
"Recycling your older refrigerators and freezers is simple, easy and effective, and also is the perfect complement to your spring cleaning efforts," he added. "It's also the right thing to do for the environment and your family's bottom line."
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.
Contact: Kristina Hill
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
SOURCE Duke Energy