Gone with the Wind: PECO Wind is defunct, but you can still buy local, renewable energy

story by Liz PachecoSince 2004, the PECO Wind program has allowed customers to purchase renewable electricity that supported wind projects in Pennsylvania. But as of December 31, the PECO Wind program ended, leaving 20,000 customers without service.
The good news for these 20,000 customers--as well as anyone interested in buying renewables--is that there are plenty of

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1 min read

Can-Do Condos: How to collectively green a multi-family home

story by Kristen Dowd l photo by Sarah Beth
Being eco-friendly as a condo or co-op resident is possible to achieve on your own—but only to a point. You can make energy-efficient lighting decisions, use heating and cooling sparingly, and recycle, but what about the light bulbs in the hallways and lobbies,

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2 mins read

Shale Gas Outrage: Join the rally against fracking

This week, the fracking industry is back in Philadelphia for their annual conference, giving citizen groups a great opportunity to voice their opposition to the controversial natural gas drilling technique. Like last year, the Shale Gas Outrage organization is working with the Philadelphia nonprofit Protecting Our Waters to lead a rally and march outside the

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1 min read

Trickle Down Effect

  There’s a new renewable energy source in town and it’s coming from a surprising place: our sewage. In April, NovaThermal Energy, a Philadelphia-based company, installed a wastewater geothermal system at the Philadelphia Water Department’s Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant. This is the first facility in the country to have a system of this kind.

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1 min read

Electric Wizards: SEPTA generates revenue through cutting-edge technology

story by Samantha WittchenInnovation” might not be the first word Philadelphians associate with SEPTA—two tokens sold in a plastic bag that says “Go Green” seems, um, not innovative—but that reputation deserves to change. SEPTA is piloting a cutting-edge regenerative braking project that saves energy and money, and positions Philadelphia as a

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2 mins read