LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

Enroll in paperless billing today for the chance to receive $100. Let's get green together!

LCEC does not contract solar or installers. Beware of solar company reps stating they work for LCEC.

Archives

Shopping Cart


Default Image

To have or not to have a second refrigerator

February 19, 2019 – If you have a second refrigerator in your home, it may be time to thank it for its service and bid it farewell. There are so many options when it comes to energy efficient refrigerator models which offer ample space while not making a huge dent in your electric usage. For those wanting more bells and whistles, there are even fridges that boost digital doodle pads on the door while still keeping your energy costs low. Yet even with all that is available on the market, many homes in the United States still have a second fridge which is (more often than not) ancient and stored in a hot garage. Whether you have a second fridge to keep beverages cold or house leftovers, it is time to pitch the fridge and focus on saving electricity!

According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the average “second refrigerator” is likely between 15 to 25 years old and uses about 750-1000 kilowatt-hours every year which amounts to between $97 to $130 on your electric bill. In contrast, today’s ENERGY STAR® refrigerators cost about $40 a year to run.

If you are ready to bid your second fridge farewell, consider the following valuable information from ENERGY STAR®:
• Refrigerators and freezers contain refrigerants, oils, and other compounds that, by federal law, must be removed and recovered. Then the steel, other metals, and selected parts can be recycled.
• Some recycling programs also capture the foam insulation inside the refrigerator doors for added environmental benefits.
• On average, a 10+ year old fridge contains more than 120 pounds of recyclable steel!
Ways to recycle your fridge:
• When you buy a new ENERGY STAR® refrigerator, consider buying from a retailer than has an EPA Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program. The sales associate should be able to tell you if their store has this program.
• Contact your city’s waste management division to see if they pick up appliances such as fridges and their policies on recycling these types of appliances.
• Call your local scrap metal recycler.

For those who still want to keep that second fridge, please remember these tips for the future! By getting rid of that second refrigerator, you will not only save on your electric bill but you will be reducing your carbon footprint.

NOTICE: You are leaving the LCEC website

By selecting the “Continue” button below you will be leaving the LCEC website and entering a website hosted by another party. Please be advised that you will no longer be subject to, or under the protection of the LCEC website Privacy Policy, and that LCEC is not responsible for the content or accuracy of the information on the website. We encourage you to review the privacy policy on the site you are entering before providing any personally identifiable or confidential information.

NOTICIA: Usted está saliendo de la página de internet de LCEC.

Seleccionando el boton “Continuar” ud. estará saliendo de la página de internet de LCEC e ingresará a una página de internet acogida por una compañia tercera. Por favor note que ud. no estará sujeto a o bajo la protección y reglas de privacidad de la página de internet de LCEC. LCEC no es responsable por el contenido y veracidad de la información en la página de internet. Antes de proceder y proveer cualquier información personal o confidencial, le sugerimos que revise las reglas de privacidad en el sitio de internet al que ud. está ingresando.