FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Apr 6 2015
TEP Offers Cool Cash for Old Refrigerators, Freezers Through New Program
Tucson, Ariz. — As the heat of summer approaches, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is offering a cool $30 rebate to customers who recycle outdated, inefficient refrigerators or freezers through the company’s new Refrigerator Recycling Program.
Rebates are available to customers who call (855) 559-2524 or visit tep.com/recycle and arrange to have full-size refrigerators or freezers picked up for recycling. Each unit must be clean, in working condition and have an interior volume of 10-30 cubic feet. Up to two appliances per household may be recycled each year. Appliance pick-up and removal is free, and participants can expect to receive their rebate checks in about 4-6 weeks.
By removing an older refrigerator or freezer from service, customers can save up to $125 per year on their electric bills, according to estimates from energystar.gov. Older refrigerators and freezers require up to four times more energy than newer, more energy-efficient models.
The TEP Refrigerator Recycling Program is a hassle-free way to save money and keep appliances out of landfills. The old appliances are transported by JACO Environmental to recycling facilities, where up to 95 percent of the metals, glass, plastics and other materials in each appliance are recycled. Hazardous materials are safely extracted and properly disposed of to prevent environmental damage.
The program is one of several new energy efficiency offerings from TEP this year, including discounted LED lighting and financial incentives for efficient pool pumps. TEP offers a variety of customer-funded energy efficiency programs that have been reviewed and approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission. The programs have been proven to be cost-effective for all customers — not just those who participate — by reducing TEP’s long-term need for new energy resources. They also reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, resulting in reduced air emissions and water usage.
TEP’s energy efficiency programs have helped customers save more than 641,000 megawatt-hours — enough energy to power nearly 62,000 homes for a year. These savings help TEP work toward the goals in Arizona’s Energy Efficiency Standard, which calls on utilities to achieve cumulative energy savings of 22 percent by 2020.
Tucson Electric Power provides safe, reliable electric service to approximately 414,000 customers in southern Arizona. For more information about TEP’s residential and commercial energy efficiency programs, visit tep.com.
News Media Contact: Joseph Barrios, (520) 884-3725, jbarrios@tep.com
Note: The Refrigerator Recycling Program has been discontinued.
