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This initiative from Philadelphia Energy Authority is connecting programs and organizations to support homeowners in low-income housing

When homeowners make the switch from oil to electric home systems it’s not just better for the environment—it also saves them money. But while the money a family saves on their home energy bills—thanks to solar panels, electric heat pumps, and more—can often pay off the switch in just a few years, affording the initial

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The Energy Co-op is now offering biogas sourced from landfills

Alexandra Kroger, energy program director at The Energy Co-op, is hoping that Philadelphia’s biggest utility providers notice the work they are doing and get inspired. “As the demand for our renewable energy products becomes more apparent, PECO and PGW might see that as a market signal favoring renewable energy,” Kroger says. “We can’t speculate if

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2 mins read
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Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 ruins quality of life in Delaware County through eminent domain

Along the long, winding roads of Glen Riddle, a small community close to Media in Delaware County, sits Glen Riddle Station Apartments, a 124-unit complex at the center of yet another Mariner East pipeline controversy. On May 26 more than 200 residents of Glen Riddle Station found themselves without water, and Pennsylvania State Police launched

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6 mins read
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How volunteers at one Philly condo building promote sustainability and green living to their neighbors.

In 2006, the board of The Philadelphian, a condominium located on Pennsylvania Avenue, faced a financial dilemma. A previous Board of Directors had allowed necessary upkeep to fall by the wayside for years, leaving the 1960s building in desperate need of repairs. Rundown appliances, poorly insulated areas, and many more interior issues were creating high

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Energy: Cooler Heads

For energy savings, cool roofs are a no-brainer  by Samantha WittchenThe roof is no longer on fire. First there was the Mayor’s “Coolest Block” Contest, offering Philadelphians the chance to win an energy-saving cool roof and other energy efficiency upgrades from the city for every house on their block. Then there was City Council’s Earth

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3 mins read
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Energy: In Hot Water

A guide to upgrading your hot water heaterby Samantha WittchenAccording to Energy Star (energystar.gov), in 2009, 14 percent of a household’s annual average energy costs went to heating water. If you have an old, inefficient water heater, that number is probably higher.

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News Alert: The Energy Caps Come Off

Prepare yourselves: In January 2011, electricity rates in Philadelphia will increase, if not skyrocket. Back in 1997, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a deregulation measure that capped utility rates for consumers in preparation for allowing competition—or “Energy Choice”—in the market. PECO’s cap will expire next year, but citizens in other areas of the state

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1 min read
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News: Isle of White

RetroFit Philly gives Philadelphians a chance to win free energy upgrades 
It seems impossible that, in a few short months, Philadelphians will be sweating through their shirts, but it’s true. Energy costs are sure to be a concern this summer, and small changes make a huge difference.
This is the thrust behind RetroFit Philly’s Coolest Block Contest, an

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1 min read