Energy Efficient Refrigerator

O&R offers rebate program

A new "Appliance Rebate and Recycling Program" is being offered to Orange and Rockland Utilities' electric customers.
Consumers can get a $25 rebate on air-conditioners that deliver 15,000 BTUs per hour; $50 for units that deliver more than 15,000 BTUs; and $10 per dehumidifier.
All new units must be Energy Star models, which are appliances designed to be at least 10 percent more efficient than standard models.
Visit energystar.gov for a list of eligible models.
Consumers can get a $50 "bounty" on older freezers and refrigerators that are picked up by the company for recycling.
Schedule a pickup by sending an email with your name, address and telephone number to Eric Caban at cabaner@oru.com or by calling 877-852-5678.
Visit www.rocklandrecycles.com for information about recycling air conditioners.

PEARL RIVER — Just as summer's sizzling temperatures make a return, a new program could put cash in your pocket when you buy a new air conditioner.

The Appliance Rebate and Recycling Program is offered by Orange and Rockland Utilities Inc. to its electric customers, O&R spokesman Michael Donovan said.

Consumers can get rebates of as much as $50 when they replace an inefficient air conditioner with a newer model or call to have their older freezer or refrigerator picked up by the company for recycling.

The Public Service Commission, which oversees utilities in New York, approved an energy-efficiency program for O&R's residential customers. Small-business customers also can participate.

The effort aims to support the stocking, promotion and sale of high-efficiency air conditioners and dehumidifiers, mainly through customer rebates.

James Denn, a spokesman for the PSC, said O&R was approved to use $1.5 million through 2012 to help fund the program, including the rebates.

The money for the program comes from a surcharge paid by customers and earmarked for energy-efficiency improvement programs, Denn said.

O&R's program seeks to reduce power use by a total of 3,870 megawatt hours through 2012, he said.

Statistics show that the typical O&R residential customer uses about 667 kilowatt hours of electricity monthly, Donovan said.

Replacing an energy-inefficient refrigerator can save a customer 1,655 kilowatt hours yearly, or about $320 annually, he said.

Replacing an inefficient freezer, such as the kind some people keep in their garage for chilling sodas, can save 1,257 kilowatt hours, or about $242, a year, Donovan said.

3 Reasons to Buy Energy Star Fridges Like Samsung Fridge Freezer ...

If you’re looking to save money on household energy bills, then one of the most important appliances that you can buy is an Energy Star ffridge, because your refrigerator is one of the biggest energy users in the house. The Energy Star label is a system used to distinguish the most energy-efficient appliances available on the market today. An Energy Star certified refrigerator is one that uses at least 20% less energy than the minimum standards set by the federal government.

But it’s not necessary to do without the fridge features that you really want just to obtain an Energy Star refrigerator. For instance, a Samsung fridge freezer always qualifies for the Energy Star label, yet the brand is widely recognized as having some of the most advanced features on the market. Like most other refrigerator retailers, they have discovered that in order to make money you need to sell energy-efficient refrigerators.

Are there three good reasons to buy an Energy Star fridge?

1) Saving money on utility bills. Over the lifetime of your fridge, it is very possible to lower your utility bills by $175 or more if you choose an energy Star compliant model.

2) Replacing your inefficient old refrigerator. A fridge from the 1980s cost you more than $100 per year in extra electricity costs as compared to an energy Star compliant model.

2) Environmental benefits. Once you realize that over 70% of US electricity originates from the burning off non-renewable fuels such as coal and natural gas, you can begin to appreciate the environmental benefits of buying the energy Star logo.

Here’s another tip from One Great Earth for reducing your refrigerator’s electricity needs even more: Select a top-mounted freezer. The refrigerator unit operates more efficiently when the freezer is located on top. The electrical savings will amount to 10 to 25% as compared to a side-by-side model, or a refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom.

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