RG&E MARKS MILESTONE IN ROCHESTER: 30,000 REFRIGERATORS RECYCLED

To Date, the Program Has Recycled 45 Tons of Glass, 1,875 Tons of Metal, and Kept 210,000 Tons of Carbon Dioxide Out of the Atmosphere

Rochester, NY – NYSEG and RG&E, subsidiaries of Iberdrola USA, have reached a major energy efficiency milestone: 30,000 energy-hogging refrigerators/freezers taken off the grid through the companies’ ongoing recycling program.

RG&E customers Denise and Dan Burns took advantage of the program today. The Burns’ will receive $50 for recycling their refrigerator and save up to $150 in energy costs each year. A crew came to Burn’s home and removed an old refrigerator they have had in the basement for 12 years. The crew disabled the old appliance and transported it to the JACO Environmental recycling facility in Syracuse. JACO safely removes harmful materials from the units, reclaiming 95 percent of the materials in the appliances for reuse in manufacturing new products. To date, this program has facilitated the recycling of approximately 45 tons of glass, 1,875 tons of metal, 390 tons of foam/plastic, 5.5 tons of refrigerant and more than 9 tons of oil.

“More and more New Yorkers are looking for ways to reduce their household energy costs, and refrigerators are huge energy users,” said Mark S. Lynch, president and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E. “This program offers a simple way to save money, save energy and earn a $50 check just by scheduling a free pickup of your old working refrigerator or freezer."

By recycling 30,000 units, program participants have collectively saved enough electricity to power more than 4,100 homes for an entire year. The environmental benefit is 210,000 tons of carbon dioxide spared from entering the atmosphere, the equivalent of removing 30,000 cars from the road for a year.

Launched in 2011, the appliance recycling program encourages customers to save money on their electric bills and help the environment by having old, energy-inefficient refrigerators and freezers recycled.

To schedule a free pickup, RG&E customers can call 877.691.00211 or visit http://www.rge.com/energyefficiencyprograms/recycle/. Refrigerators and freezers to be recycled must be in working order and have an inside volume of between 10 and 30 cubic feet.