To continue getting breaking news and the full stories from The Boston Globe, subscribe today.

The Boston Globe

Metro

PROVIDENCE

Two men tie to win oldest refrigerator contest in R.I.

The owners of two 1939 refrigerators have won a contest to identify the oldest refrigerators in Rhode Island. National Grid and Sears sponsored the contest to highlight energy efficiency and a program that rewards the utility’s customers for getting rid of old appliances. The contest ended in a tie after Robert Midwood of Cranston and Edward Miracle of Greenville each turned in 73-year-old General Electric units. They both won a $1,000 gift card good toward the purchase of a newer model. More than 3,400 appliances were picked up during the contest. National Grid offers customers a $50 incentive if they allow their old refrigerator or freezer to be picked up for recycling. The utility says older models consume as much as four times the energy of a newer unit.