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PEORIA, Ill., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A $1-million energy efficiency milestone was achieved today when the Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) Act On Energy® program collected the 10,000th refrigerator/freezer unit for recycling.

In addition, the Act On Energy program has been honored by Atlanta-based Chartwell, Inc., which recognized the energy efficiency initiative with the coveted Best Practices Award for Marketing. Chartwell is a specialized information provider that facilitates the exchange of knowledge among utility professionals responsible for management practices and technology solutions.

The 10,000th refrigerator was picked up today at the home of Jesse and Emma Guyton in Peoria. In addition, Act On Energy began collecting the next 10,000 units today when a freezer was picked up at the home of Barbara Clendenin in Marion.

"The retirement of 10,000 old refrigerators and freezers represents annual energy savings of at least $1 million," said Karen Warnke, Ameren Illinois Utilities (AIU) Customer Service energy efficiency advisor. "What's more, we have paid customers a total of $350,000 for those 10,000 units.

"This program also is good news for the environment because the retirement of these refrigerators will mean about 12.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity will not be generated by power plants. Less electricity generated means fewer emissions from fossil fuel power plants."

This refrigerator/freezer recycling program reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions equivalent to the emissions from as many as 1,690 automobiles. The recycling of 10,000 refrigerators and freezers produced more than 900 tons of metal and nearly 3,800 pounds of refrigerants that may have otherwise ended up in landfills.

AIU will pay an electric customer $35 for a standard size refrigerator or freezer manufactured before 1993. The appliance must be operating and used as a secondary unit typically located in a basement or garage.

Eligible Ameren Illinois Utilities electric customers should call 1-866-899-9088 to schedule a pickup of their refrigerator or freezer. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Best Practices Award: In receiving Chartwell's Best Practices Award for Marketing, AIU's Act On Energy initiative was recognized as a "far-reaching energy efficiency campaign," according to Dennis Smith, Chartwell vice president of research and information delivery.

Launched in June 2008, Act On Energy is aggressively educating customers and employees about the AIU's energy efficiency initiatives.

"Engaging our more than 2,700 co-workers was critical to delivering a responsive and efficient education program," said Sean Vanslyke, Ameren Illinois Utilities' manager of community and public relations. "In a short time, many of our customers have proven they are ready and willing to take an active role in controlling their energy usage to help lower their bills. Given our nearly 44,000 square mile service territory and numerous media markets, it was important for our team to develop an integrated approach that relied on many channels and mediums, including good old fashioned community relations in our more than 1,200 communities that we serve. Our customers are learning and we are as well. That's exciting."

Act On Energy offers energy efficiency advice, incentives and rebates for AIU residential and business customers. The residential programs include rebates for ENERGY STAR qualified air conditioning units, dehumidifiers, ceiling fans and ceiling fan light kits. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs are available online and in selected retail outlets at sharply discounted prices. There also are discounts for heating, cooling and ventilation equipment. The new Home Energy Performance Programs provides incentives for qualifying energy efficiency home upgrades. Complete residential program information is available on ActOnEnergy.com, by calling 1-866-838-6918 or by sending an e-mail to ActOnEnergyResidential@ameren.com.

For AIU business customers, Act On Energy offers incentives for lighting, refrigeration, motor systems, HVAC systems, small business HVAC and retro commissioning. There also is the Small Business Online Store, small business commercial kitchens program, grocery/convenience store incentives and custom incentives. Complete business program information is available at ActOnEnergy.com, by calling 1-866-800-0747 or by sending an e-mail to ActOnEnergyBusiness@ameren.com.

The Ameren Illinois Utilities (AmerenCIPS, AmerenCILCO, AmerenIP) have been providing safe, reliable energy delivery service for more than a century. The Ameren Illinois Utilities deliver energy to 1.2 million electric and 840,000 natural gas customers in more than 1,200 communities within a 43,700-square-mile service territory.

Refrigerator/Freezer Efficiency Tips

Getting the most out of a refrigerator or freezer begins with sound advice most people heard from their parents - close the door. Minimizing the amount of time a refrigerator or freezer door is open keeps cold air in which lowers energy costs. Other tips include:

• Keep refrigerators at 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit and freezers at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for maximum performance and food safety.
• Make certain there are a few inches between the back of the refrigerator or freezer and the wall to allow for proper air circulation.
• Replace door seals that are not airtight.
• Avoid placing refrigerators and freezers near heat sources such as ranges, dishwaters, direct sunlight and heat vents.
• Manual defrost freezers should be defrosted when ice builds up to one-quarter of an inch.
   

Always buy ENERGY STAR

When buying a new refrigerator or freezer, select a model that is ENERGY STAR qualified for maximum energy efficiency and the features you need. Other tips include:

• Refrigerators with a top-mounted freezers use 10 to 25 percent less energy than side-by-side and bottom-mount freezer models.
• Typically, the most energy efficient refrigerators have 16 to 20 cubic feet of space. In most cases, larger freezers use more energy than smaller models.
• Automatic ice makers and through-the-door water/ice dispensers will increase energy use by as much as 20 percent, while adding up to $250 to the purchase price.
• Consider buying a chest freezer, which typically use less energy than an upright model.
• Manual defrost freezers use about 50 percent less energy than automatic defrost units.
   

SOURCE Ameren Illinois Utilities

SOURCE: Ameren Illinois Utilities

Web site: http://www.ameren.com/