Cash for Kitchen Clunkers

If you weren't able to take advantage of the federal government's Cash for Clunkers program (I wasn't because my car was too fuel efficient, much to my wallet's surprise), there's a chance you may have another opportunity — with your refrigerator or freezer, that is.

According to this GreenBiz.com article, Michigan-based DTE Energy announced it had accepted more than 1,000 of these old appliances through a trade-in program. The catch is that you have to be a Detroit Edison customer to turn in the refrigerator or freezer for a $50 rebate, with the company hauling them away at no cost.

"Refrigerators and freezers manufactured before 1990 typically use three times more electricity than new appliances and can cost a typical household an average of $150 a year to run," according to Steven Kumas, Detroit Edison's president and chief operating officer, as quoted in the article. And for those who do get rid of those old appliances, Kumas added, "They can save money using less energy — and help the environment at the same time."

DTE Energy expects to take in about 30,000 of those clunkers in the next three years. And maybe as more people hear about this program across the country, other energy companies will feel the pressure to adopt similar programs.

You can find out more about DTE Energy's recycling program here.

Photo courtesy of edcrowle, via Flickr