BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--There’s a monster visiting Puget Sound communities this summer to help spread the word that Puget Sound Energy residential electric customers can take a bite out of their energy costs by recycling their spare inefficient refrigerators. PSE’s Fridgeasaurus is an eight-foot tall sculpture made of eight recycled refrigerator doors.
Fridgeasaurus was designed by Seattle artist RobRoy Chalmers and painted by children at several local day camps. The art piece is part of a campaign to encourage customers to take advantage of PSE’s free refrigerator and freezer recycling program, to promote new rebates for energy efficient appliances and to promote PSE’s sweepstakes giveaway program of three Whirlpool energy efficient appliances.
“Older model refrigerators and freezers can use up to four times the energy of newer energy-efficient models,” said Fridgeasaurus, who stands eight feet tall and is made from eight refrigerator doors. “I can’t wait to get out and let people know that by recycling old refrigerators and freezers, PSE customers can save up to $200 a year in energy costs.”
In addition, customers who participate in the refrigerator and freezer recycling program receive free pickup of their old refrigerator or freezer and a $30 thank you from PSE in the form of a check or a prepaid VISA card.
PSE encourages customers to make energy-efficient choices when purchasing new appliances by offering residential electric customers a $75 rebate on the purchase of a new energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® qualified Consortium for Energy Efficiency Tier two or three refrigerator when they recycle their main refrigerator (the refrigerator usually found in kitchens). New ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993. While residential electric customers are eligible for both the $75 refrigerator replacement rebate and the $30 spare refrigerator or freezer recycling rebate, the rebates cannot be used on the same appliance.
Fridgeasaurus will travel to various community events and fairs, PSE Rock the Bulb: The Re-Energize Tour locations and retailers in the utility’s service area through September. In October, the exhibit will land at PSE’s Renewable Energy Center at Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility near Ellensburg to help promote Energy Awareness Month. At Fridgeasaurus display locations, PSE residential electric customers can sign up to recycle their spare refrigerator or freezer, learn more about PSE’s $75 rebate for new refrigerators and up to $100 rebate for clothes washers.
As an added attraction at the events, PSE residential electric customers can enter to win one of three efficient appliances donated by Whirlpool.
Fridgeasaurus will announce three contest winners at PSE’s Renewable Energy Center. Winners will be selected at random and will receive the following prizes: First place – a front-loading washer and dryer; second place – a French door refrigerator with bottom freezer and third place -- a top-loading washer and dryer. To enter, customers simply submit a contest game piece at Fridgeasaurus display locations, Rock the Bulb: The Re-Energize Tour bulb exchange events, select PSE customer service offices, PSE’s Renewable Energy Center or by mail. Deadline for entry is Sept. 30, 2011.
At the end of the Fridgeasaurus tour, the art piece will be taken apart and the materials from the eight refrigerator and freezer doors will be recycled, including all the metal, plastic, gaskets and screws. Upcoming Fridgeasaurus displays include:
- Aug. 6-7 – Redmond Rock the Bulb - Fred Meyer, 17667 NE 76th St.
- Aug. 13-14 – Oak Harbor Rock the Bulb - Ace Hardware, 150 SE Pioneer Way
- Aug. 20-21 – Lacey Rock the Bulb - Fred Meyer, 700 Sleater Kinney Rd SE
- Aug. 27-28 – Burlington Rock the Bulb - Fred Meyer, 920 S Burlington Blvd
- Sept. 3-4 – Bremerton - Lowe's, 5600 State Highway 303 NE
- Sept. 21-25 – in “SillyVille” at The Puyallup Fair
- Sept. 26 – Oct. 31 – Renewable Energy Center at Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility near Ellensburg
“Fridgeasaurus has been an exciting opportunity to teach young people about art, cooperation and energy efficiency,” said Chalmers, Fridgeasaurus creator and local artist. “The kids were eager to participate and know they are part of something larger than just their door. I think the finished piece is an eye-catching way to promote thoughtful environmental stewardship."
Chalmers was chosen for the project because of his strong commitment to sustainable practices and his interest in creating community through art. Chalmers worked with kids at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Federal Way, Bremerton, Lacey, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor and Redmond as well as Camp W.A.L.K.A.P.A.L.A. of Kent and Cry Out of Renton. His work can be seen in multiple corporate and private collections, including numerous Nordstrom stores nationwide.
PSE has set a goal to help customers in 2011 recycle nearly 9,300 refrigerators and freezers that will save 3.1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and $310,000 in energy-bills, preventing more than 3.4 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent of taking more than 280 cars off the road.
For updated Fridgeasaurus display locations, and complete guidelines on the refrigerator and freezer recycling program, or to schedule a free pickup of an old appliance, visit PSE.com/Fridge. Customers can also call 1-866-551-9755 to schedule a pickup. To learn more about Chalmers and his artwork visit PrintTroll.com. For more information on PSE’s appliance rebates and contest rules for the efficient appliances contest visit PSE.com/Appliances or call a PSE Energy Advisor at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Editors Note: Still photos of Fridgeasaurus available.
About Puget Sound Energy
Washington state’s oldest local energy utility, Puget Sound Energy serves more than 1 million electric customers and 750,000 natural gas customers in 11 counties. A subsidiary of Puget Energy, PSE meets the energy needs of its customer base through incremental, cost-effective energy efficiency, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in the energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service and delivering energy that is safe, reliable, reasonably priced, and environmentally responsible. For more information, visit www.PSE.com.