Living sustainably

Environmental Blog

The Environmental Concerns Working Group has created an environmental blog. to help inform Meeting Members about living more Sustainably.

Potluck on Climate Change, 2012 Jan 28

We had a wonderful evening of presentations, and discussions over a healthy potluck meal. There were presentations on policy change, greenroadway enhancement, solar energy, and better nutrition through vegetable gardening.

Click here to download a presentation on gardening at the Old Tennis Court Farm.

Click here to download a presentation on solar energy at a GMM member's house.

2nd Annual Green Fair, 2011 May 1

The Working Group with a Concern for Global Warming of Germantown Meeting is organizing the Green Fair on May 1, 2011, 1-5 PM, in cooperation with local faith-based communities and environmental organizations. We will be hosting the Fair this year in the Germantown Friends School Sustainable Urban Science Center.

We encourage everyone to ome to the Green Fair. It is free.

Please click here to see more about the Green Fair.

Sustainability Survey

The Working Group with a Concern for Global Warming has put together a Sustainability Survey for the Meeting and interested community members. We encourage everyone to fill out the survey and return it to the Meeting (gmm@gfsnet.org). We hope the survey will help you learn about ways to live more sustainably, and we would like to hear about your ideas and projects.

Click here to download the Sustainability Survey

Electric Power Shopping Guide

The new electric utility laws allow everyone to shop around for the best deal for their electric power. The Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate Board has developed some helpful information about the different electric power providers. From some, you can buy green electricity, from wind or other sustainable sources.

Click here to download the Electric Power Guide

This "Residential Consumer's Electric Shopping Guide" gives information about how to choose a different electric supplier. The idea is to find your electric supplier, then look in the listing under that supplier to find the other suppliers you can choose from for your power generation and transmission.

Please read the instructions on how to use the Electric Power Shopping Guide which are on pages 3 to 6.

Because most local Meeting members purchase electricity from PECO, you can find the information you need on page 17 of the Guide. Check PECO's "price to compare" with the other suppliers listed under PECO. There are 6 pages of listings under PECO. Generally the ones that are cheapest have the lowest fraction of renewable energy. But the prices for renewable energy are generally not more than 10% higher.

Please note that the prices quoted are the portions of your electric bill for which you can choose an alternate supplier. Your bill contains other charges for the poles and local distribution. The numbers quoted may change so you should check with the supplier to get the latest information.

We recommend the providers that offer 100% renewable choices. They are:

Blue Star Energy

Energy Cooperative Association of PA

North American Power

Viridian Energy

Washington Gas Energy Services

On the last page, there are 2 renewable energy add-ons, from Community Energy, and PPL Energy Plus. We recommend these because, although they do not supply you with renewable electricity, they allow you to support the use and development of sustainable electric power generation:

New Wind Energy

PPL Energy Plus

On page 23 (page 7 under PECO), there are choices for residential heating service (RH).

For more information about electric rates and providers, Click here