It’s always nice to exceed internal expectations, and Home Depot’s ‘Keep Cool’ air conditioning recycling initiative has done just that for the second year in a row. This time it’s doubled its goal to bring in 3,000 units, with 6,600 drop-offs in the Toronto area alone.

The Ontario-wide program netted almost 16,000 units. Participants were encouraged to retire their old, energy-guzzling A/Cs and upgrade to energy-efficient models; they received $25 certificates towards buying new air conditioners at Home Depot.

‘It’s a great way for Home Depot to position [itself] as the leader in energy efficiency,’ says Nick Cowling, Home Depot’s senior manager, communications and external affairs. The retail chain partnered with local hydro offices like Toronto Hydro, as well as the Clean Air Foundation and the Ontario Conservation Bureau for the effort.

Home Depot will be running the program again next year because, according to Cowling, ‘I don’t think we’ve gotten all of the old air conditioners out of the market yet.’