Cut the Cord

It’s an unseen staple of many American homes: the puttering spare refrigerator or freezer. Once the crown jewel of the kitchen, these appliances were replaced by newer versions and moved to another space because, well, they still work. Sort of. CUT THE CORD: Program Pays Residents to Unplug Old Appliances

Reassuring as extra food storage might be, old inefficient appliances can cost households every month in energy costs. What’s worse, they create a drain on the City’s grid and can contribute to higher energy costs in the future.

“The Westerville Electric Division purchases power from the market, but the cost of transmission and other bill components are largely out of Westerville’s control. Those prices are based on, among other things, power consumption,” said Chris Monacelli, the City’s Electric Utility Manager. “So it works to everyone’s advantage to get inefficient appliances off the grid.”

Through the City’s appliance recycling program, residents can receive a $50 pre-paid VISA gift card or digital debit card download in exchange for their old, working refrigerator or freezer. The City will even handle arranging the heavy lifting and safe recycling. Launched in 2017, Westerville residents have recycled more than 1,500 refrigerators and freezers through the program.

The appliances recycled/removed from the grid resulted in a decrease of more than 840,000 kWh in annual usage or more than $90,000 per year in energy costs for consumers.

Please note that pick-ups were temporarily put on hold with respect to the state’s social distancing orders. However, interested parties may still arrange to be added to the program’s waitlist. Learn more at www.westerville.org/takemyfridge. Schedule a free pick-up and claim an easy $50 today.