Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) was recognized last week at the Green California Summit in Sacramento, as winner of the 2008 Green California Leadership Award for Climate Change
The LADWP was recognized as the winner in the Climate Change category for the Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program through which the LADWP has distributed over 29,000 free energy-saving refrigerators to low-income customers across the City of Los Angeles. Other award categories included: Energy Innovation, Green Building, Purchasing, Waste Management, Transportation, Water Management and Green Culture.
The LADWP’s winning program, the Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program provides free energy efficient refrigerators to LADWP customers who are on the Low Income Discount Rate or Lifeline discount rate program. These customers often have older, inefficient refrigerators that not only waste energy, but cost much more to operate than newer, energy efficient refrigerators
The LADWP Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program provides low income qualifying customers a new efficient refrigerator free of charge. The old refrigerator is picked-up and recycled in an environmentally friendly manner, so that the refrigerators do not end up in City landfills, where oil and other products could pollute and make their way into our groundwater sources.
“The LADWP is very proud to have been recognized for our effort in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and assisting LADWP customers who are the most in need,” said LADWP Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Nahai. He added, “It is gratifying to see that our efforts in reducing energy use and environmental responsibility are recognized along with many other exciting projects being developed around the state and in local communities. The LADWP is committed to blazing a trail for a new kind of future. A future that is greener through increased energy efficiency, expanded renewable energy, green buildings and other environmentally conscious initiatives.”
The Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program is expected to save each participating customer approximately 62 kilowatt-hours per month, or about $60 per year. Over the life of the refrigerator, each customer will save approximately $1,000 on their utility bill.
The program’s goal is to exchange 50,000 refrigerators and in nine months almost 30,000 refrigerators have been exchanged. The program includes the purchase of the refrigerators as part of a $25 million agreement with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA). The entire exchange program is scheduled to save 675 gigawatt-hours of energy or roughly 2.8% of projected annual sales for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. This will save an estimated $37 million in fuel costs, resulting in a net savings to the LADWP of $12 million.
Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program participants must meet the following requirements:
- -Current participant in the LADWP residential Low Income Discount Rate or Lifeline Program.
- -The customer’s refrigerator must be at least 10 years old and be at least 14.0 cubic feet in volume.
- -The outlet to which the refrigerator is connected must be grounded.
- -The customer must be willing to give up (exchange) their old refrigerator to be environmentally recycled.
Customers can learn more about the program and determine whether they qualify for the Low Income Discount Rate Program or Lifeline Program by calling 1-800-DIAL-DWP.
The Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program is just one of the programs under the LADWP Green LA Environmental Programs umbrella. Other programs include the Consumer Rebate Program, the Refrigerator Retire Program, the Trees for a Green LA Program (in conjunction with Million Trees LA), CFL distribution, the Green Power Program, the Solar Incentive Program and more. Information on these environmental water and energy saving programs and tips are available at www.ladwp.com or by calling 1-800-Green LA.
In cooperation with the Advisory Board for the Green California Summit, the Green California Leadership Awards were established as a forum to showcase outstanding environmental achievements in government. The 2008 awards seek to highlight and celebrate successful state and local government projects implemented in California in 2007. All recognized projects and programs must have been publicly financed and executed, and must have provided a measurable benefit to the natural or human environment.
The largest municipally owned utility in the nation, the LADWP was established more than 100 years ago to provide water and electricity to meet the needs of the City’s residents and businesses. LADWP currently serves more than 3.9 million residents in the City of Los Angeles.
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