Some Bigger Steps for a Healthy Planet

HELP EDUCATE YOUR COMMUNITY 

• Help your workplace, civic or religious organization or neighborhood form a “Green Team”

  • Working with a Green Team can be uplifting & energizing

• Such teams help to:

  • Make specific suggestions for ways your organization can be more sustainable, such as reducing the use of disposable plastic – many of these can save money, too!

  • Educate & motivate the organization’s members on positive actions to take

IF YOU’RE A HOMEOWNER

• Switch to electric when you need to replace furnaces, hot water heaters, stoves & other appliances! 

  • High-efficiency heat pumps are increasingly used to replace gas-powered furnaces. More & more homes will be all-electric as we move away from gas & coal!

• Switch your electricity source to renewable energy through PECO Choice. The cost of renewable energy is continuing to drop!

• Install solar panels – Contact Solarize Philly at 215.686.4483, or Solar United Neighbors of Pennsylvania on how to get affordable solar panels installed.  

• Increase your home’s energy efficiency – PECO can arrange helpful energy audits at a low cost (search ‘energy assessment’)

IF YOU HAVE INVESTMENTS

• Tell your investment company that you want to transfer your money from funds that invest in fossil fuels to ones that don’t. 

  • Use this to find out the best investments that are free of fossil fuels.  Many “green funds” do as well or better than funds including fossil fuels

• Tell your investment company you want them to reduce their investments in fossil fuels, or you may move your money to another company!

• Join organizations (such as Stop the Money Pipeline) opposing further investment in the fossil fuel industry, which continues to contribute to the climate crisis

IF YOU OWN A CAR OR TRUCK

• Consider going electric next time you buy a car or truck.

  • New vehicles will be nearly all-electric in the US in the next two decades

  • Electric vehicles are low-maintenance, high performance, & less expensive to operate

  • The Infrastructure legislation of 2021 will fund a large network of charging stations, & tax credits for many electric vehicles are available

JOIN UP!

• Join a group working nationally and/or locally for effective, equitable climate policies

• Search online for ‘climate action organizations near me’ to learn about local groups

• Volunteer to help elect candidates for office who would be strong leaders for equitable climate action  

For more information, contact us, or Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks, or Leonard Nakamura.