South Kentucky RECC wants its members to know that a new energy efficient appliance only saves money if you get rid of the old one.

In 2010 and 2011 many consumers got federal rebates for a new refrigerator, water heater, or other household appliance. About 1.7 million rebates were redeemed, and the U.S. Department of Energy estimates these appliances will cut $65 million from electric bills every year. Around $48 million of that chunk will be saved mainly by consumers who bought energy-efficient refrigerators, clothes washers, and dishwashers.

Great news, right? It is, if people follow the adage, “Out with the old, in with the new.” But for one in five households, that’s not the case. A national survey by the Cooperative Research Network, an arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, found 19 percent of homes have two refrigerators; two percent own three or more.

The problem with keeping an old refrigerator is that you’re not saving money. By sending these “energy hogs” to the basement or garage to keep sodas and popsicles cold for the kids, you increase electric bills even more.

Appliances already use 13 percent of your home’s electricity, and older appliances drain even more. A refrigerator from the 1970s costs $200 more to operate every year than a current model; a 1980s fridge isn’t much better, wasting $100 in energy dollars annually.

For help in making efficient energy purchases you can get in touch with South Kentucky RECC or visit www.energystar.gov.

South Kentucky RECC wants you to make the very best use of your energy dollar.