The Great Refrigerator Roundup is here!!

What is The Great Refrigerator Roundup Program?
Midland Power with support from the Ontario Power Authority, is making it simple for Ontarians to do their part to conserve energy. The Great Refrigerator Roundup is a program designed to remove older, inefficient fridges and freezers from the electricity system and fully decommission them in an environmentally friendly manner.

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.

How do I know if my appliance will qualify for the 2007 program?
Your refrigerator must be:

You may also include for pick up during the same appointment any old window air conditioners or dehumidifiers, they must be:

When will the program launch?
The program will be rolled out across the province of Ontario commencing in June. Utility customers can start booking appointments on June 18th, 2007 and the 1st available pick up day is June 25th, 2007.

You can check the Ontario Power Authority’s website at www.everykilowattcounts.com or call 1-877-797-9473 for more information.

Why would I want to participate in this program?

I have an older fridge, freezer or window air conditioner and I want to get rid of it immediately, what do I do?
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.

How do I sign up?
You have several options:

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.

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.


If you’re planning to buy a new refrigerator or freezer please consider these Energy Efficiency Tips:

Choose the right size!
The larger the appliance the more electricity it will use so consider the number of people that will be using the appliance.

Look for the ENERGY STAR®
ENERGY STAR® symbol is a simple way for you to identify products that are among the most energy-efficient on the market. Find out more about qualified ENERGY STAR® products at www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energystar.

Look for a low EnerGuide rating
The EnerGuide label is a tool to help you make an energy-wise choice when buying a new appliance. It shows how much energy appliances consume in a year of normal service. When shopping for a new appliance look for a low EnerGuide rating. Find out about EnerGuide at: www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energuide.

Refrigeration Tips: