What is
the The Great Refrigerator Roundup Program? Horizon Utilities, with support from the
Ontario Power Authority, is making it simple for Ontarians to do
their part to conserve energy and ease the strain on the
electricity system by designing a program that offers to pick up
older refrigerators and freezers as well as window air
conditioners in working condition from residents of Ontario, and
fully decommission them in an environmentally friendly manner.
The Great Refrigerator Roundup
is a program designed to remove older, inefficient fridges and
freezers from the electricity system. Generally, these older
secondary fridges and freezers, located in basements or garages,
are plugged in but rarely used. These older units typically use
two to three times more electricity than new appliances.
When
will it be available in my area? Depending on logistical constraints,
it may be that the program will only be available in some areas
for specific time periods during the year. Further details will
be made available as the program gets underway. You can check
the Ontario Power Authority's website at www.everykilowattcounts.ca
or call 1-877-797-9473 for more information.
Why
would I want to participate in this program? There are many great reasons to
participate in this program. By having your old inefficient
refrigerator or freezer removed from your home, you will be
saving money by eliminating a major home electricity user. You
will be helping the environment by reducing the impact of
electricity generation and by having the fridge, freezer or
window air conditioner decommissioned in an environmentally
responsible way. There are no hassles, a professional
contractor will remove the fridge/freezer or window air
conditioner from your home and take it away for you for proper
decommissioning.
I
have an older fridge, freezer or window air conditioner and I
want to get rid of it immediately, what do I do? I would like to suggest to you that
you simply unplug the unit so that you are not consuming any
additional electricity, book your appliance pick up time by
calling 1-877-797-9473 and then wait for the pick up to occur.
By doing this, you will ensure that your appliance is taken
away and decommissioned in the most environmentally friendly
way possible.
How
do I know if my appliance will qualify for the program? Your refrigerator or freezer must be
15 years or older (plugged in 24 hrs prior to pick up), it must be located in a single dwelling
home, a townhouse or a duplex, triplex or four-plex building.
It must be in working condition at the time of pickup, and must
be between 10 and 27 cubic feet.
You may also include for
pickup at the same appointment and location, any old window air
conditioners plus additional refrigerators and freezers ( up to
10 in total ) that are between 10 and 27 cubic feet, 15 years
or older and in working condition.
While customers will be
required to provide this information at the time of scheduling
a an appointment, the pick up service providers will be
required to verify that the eligibility requirements have been
met.
You can book on-line by visiting the
Ontario Power Authority's website at (www.everykilowattcounts.ca). It will
provide you with specific program launch dates in your area of
the province and will allow you to sign up for a pick up time
on line.
You may also book an appointment by
calling the Ontario Power Authority's Customer Contact Centre
at 1-877-797-9473
Why
are multi-residential buildings not included in the program? For this program, only refrigerators,
freezers or window air conditioners located in single dwelling
homes, townhouses, or smaller multi--plexes are eligible.
Ownership and removal issues in larger buildings prevent us
from picking them up at this time.
What's
so bad about older fridges, freezers or window air
conditioners? These technologies have changed
tremendously over the past 20 years. A typical fridge built in
1986 uses 1,500 kWh, costing $180 per year while a new ENERGY
STAR® rated fridge will use approximately one third less
energy.
Does
it make sense to replace my older fridge, freezer or window air
conditioner with a new one?
It may, because newer fridges (Freezers or window air
conditioners) cost so much less to operate than an older unit.
For example, replacing a 20-year-old 18 cubic feet refrigerator
with a new Energy Star® qualified refrigerator will result
in an annual energy cost savings of about $130. At this rate,
the savings will pay for the cost of the new refrigerator in 5
to 7 years.
What
incentive is being provided to remove the older fridge, freezer
and air conditioner? We are pleased to be offering this
program to residents since it provides free pick up by staff
who will remove it from your home, environmentally safe
disposal of the CFCs and electricity savings for you of about
$150 by removing that old refrigerator. To hire someone to take
it out of your home and dispose of it can cost up to $90 and if
you were to remove this fridge yourself and place it on the
curb, and there is frequently a charge of about $30 from the
municipality.
What
is being done with the appliances that are taken away? The appliances are being
decommissioned and dismantled so that the components can be
recycled in an environmentally responsible way. Only a bare
minimum of material will reach landfill sites. Particular
attention is being paid to the chemicals used in fridges that
are significant atmospheric pollutants and responsible for
ozone depletion. These are being contained and destroyed.
Why
is this initiative happening? Ontario's electricity use is growing.
Population growth and increases in use of electrical devices
will cause increasing demand. This demand can be met by
building more generating stations, but that is expensive and
has environmental implications. An alternative way to allow for
growth is to help Ontarians use electricity as efficiently as
possible; using only the electricity they need and, where
possible, avoiding using it at times when the peak demand for
electricity is highest. This saves Ontarians money and reduces
impact on the environment.
What
is the Ontario Power Authority? This is an organization set up by the
Ontario provincial government to Plan the Ontario Power System,
Develop Generation, Develop the Electricity Sector and
encourage electricity conservation.
