In this issue
		Energy Services Bulletin home page
		Recycling promotion highlights energy efficiency, local resources
		MHA Nation tackles wind development one step at a time
		ACORE committee provides renewable energy forum for utilities
		Schools, forests, taxpayers all win with Fuels for Schools
		Utilities join projects to promote energy-efficient homes
		SOLAR 2006 focuses on renewable energy's role in climate recovery
		Automated meter reading spreads through Western territory
		Nebraska utility, university partner on energy research center
		Western plans workshops to demystify power factor
		New Equipment Loan manager brings experience, plans to job
		Topics from the Power Line: Powering irrigation with renewable energy
		Energy shorts
		Technology spotlight: Pressure-independent valves - Do they save energy?
		Calendar of events

Recycling promotion highlights energy efficiency, local resources

Another old refrigerator enters the recycling loop at Montezuma County landfill. Empire Electric Association partnered with the landfill to promote proper disposal of old appliances. (Photo by Empire Electric Association)

Some Coloradans may regard the Four Corners area in the southwestern-most tip of the state as the "ends of the Earth," but Cortez-based Empire Electric Association, Inc. found everything it needed locally to set up a successful refrigerator recycling program this spring.

"No need to call in 'experts' from Boulder," Member Services Manager Doug Sparks pointed out proudly.

The inspiration for the program originally came from Holy Cross Energy. "We wanted to put the spotlight on a silent energy user," said Member Services Manager Doug Sparks. "Refrigerators are the third largest energy consumer in the home."

One of the problems, he explained, is that people continue to use their old refrigerators for extra food storage even after buying a new, more efficient unit. Empire Electric's recycling campaign slogan advised members, “Don’t plug it in – turn it in."

The co-op has a meter that measures refrigerators' energy use, and members can request an audit of their appliances. "It helps them understand how the refrigerator plays into their overall electricity use," said Sparks. "There are some bad energy hogs out there."

Landfills provide service

The recycling promotion also called attention to two local landfills that process old refrigerators. "I didn't know about their services until I started planning the promotion," said Sparks.

He contacted Landfill Manager Deborah Barton at the Montezuma County Landfill in Colorado to ask if she knew of a company that recycled appliances. "I said, 'We do,' " recalled the landfill manager. "Dumping refrigerators is illegal because Freon is a pollutant, so we've always taken the units for a fee. In 1999, we formalized our recycling process. Since 2002, we have removed Freon from 338 appliances."

For Empire Electric members across the border in Utah, San Juan County Landfill provides the same service.

For a small disposal fee, the landfills remove the Freon from old refrigerators and freezers and dispose of it according to EPA regulations. Once the refrigerators are evacuated, a local contractor crushes and bales the shells and takes them to a regional steel mill to complete the recycling loop.

"Modern landfills have to meet a lot of standards and requirements. These aren't dumps in the old-fashioned sense. They are the unsung heroes of environmentalism," said Sparks.

Enthusiastic member response

“Unfortunately, having a local service doesn't prevent illegal dumping of old refrigerators,” said Sparks. "So we decided to give our members a little more incentive."

Empire Electric offered to waive the landfill fee for members recycling refrigerators and freezers during Earth Week, April 17-22. "Both landfills asked us not to offer the rebate all year around because they were afraid they would be inundated with old refrigerators," said Sparks.

Marketing took the form of a couple of radio interviews, an ad in the local newspapers, an announcement in the co-op's member newsletter and word of mouth. There was a very heavy but positive response. Barton said, "We've had people who just heard about the program and showed up with their old appliances without a certificate or after the promotion dates. Some of them were willing to pay the disposal fee directly to get the ‘dang things out of the garage’."

To participate in the promotion, members had to pick up a landfill certificate stamped with their account number at one of Empire Electric's business offices. The co-op has offices in Cortez, Dove Creek and Egnar, Colo., and Monticello, Utah. "We offer online services, but a lot of our members still like to do business face to face," observed Sparks.

Each household could dispose of one refrigerator and one freezer, and receive a $50 rebate for each unit in addition to the waived fee. Members presented the certificates at the landfill when they dropped off their old appliances and signed a manifest. After processing the units, the landfill returned the top of the certificate to Empire Electric along with the manifests for all the recycled refrigerators and freezers. The utility then sent members their rebates and paid the handling fees to the landfills.

Success burnishes co-op's reputation

Representatives from Empire Electric were at both landfills on Earth Day to help process more than 230 refrigerators and freezers. "People really appreciated the safety aspect, too – disposing of refrigerators in a responsible way so kids can't get trapped in abandoned units," Sparks said.

The program's success is also helping Empire Electric build its reputation for environmental leadership. Barton invited Sparks to talk about the promotion at a solid waste management conference in Alamosa, Colo., this fall. "This partnership has been really good for encouraging energy efficiency, environmental responsibility and recycling," she said.

Partnership is one of the things Sparks enjoys about the co-op atmosphere. The former staking engineer moved to the member services management position at Empire Electric in 2003, and he has been discovering all kinds of resources to build its members services program. "All you have to do is put out the word and the resources pop up," he said. "The beauty of the recycling program was that the working parts were already in place. All we had to do was promote it and underwrite it."

The board of directors and community have been very supportive, he added, and more programs are in the works. Colorado boasts many utilities and municipalities with innovative energy programs and policies. Taking the “do-it-yourself” approach to energy efficiency and renewable energy, Empire Electric is ready to join those ranks.