(1) Reduce the Impacts of Climate Change If you still use PECO energy, more than a third of your electricity is in coal-fired power plants, which alone produce about 25% of U.S. carbon emissions [1].
The northeastern region of the U.S. has been heavily affected by the impacts of human-made climate change.
In comparison to the early 1900s, the northeastern United States has seen:
an increase in average temperature by about 2ºF (about .16ºF each decade)
an increase in annual precipitation by about five inches
sea levels rise by about one foot, exceeding the global average
a 70% increase in the amount of precipitation falling in heavy storms [2]
Energy generated by burning carbon-based fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas accounts for 69% of our total electrical generation in the U.S., accounting for greater than a third of U.S. global warming emissions [1].
The insurance industry has been one of the fastest to react to the potential dangers of climate change. Some companies, such as Ernst & Young have taken steps such as publicly announcing their concern about climate change, adjusting premiums for climate change-related disasters, lobbying governments, and investing in clean energy [3].
Since solar and wind energy produce no carbon emissions, switching to clean energy is a simple way to reduce your household’s carbon footprint.