Here are some of the municipalities which have already begun transitioning their facilities by buying renewables, installing EV charges, geothermal or heat pumps, etc.,: West Vincent Township Building, West Chester Borough, West Bradford Township, East Goshen Township, East Marlborough Township, Uwchlan Township, West Vincent Township

Learn which communities in Chester County have made a commitment to a Clean Energy Future

Why:

• Create rewarding, high-paying jobs and increase local economic growth
• Build a reputation for protecting a way of life and the businesses that depend on it.
• Become known as exciting, forward-looking places to live and work in the twenty-first century, attracting sought-after businesses and citizens and building thriving twenty-first century economies.
• Create healthier and happier places to live and work, with a decreased chance of bad air days and a reduced impact on our climate.
• Leverage greater regional collaboration
• Minimize environmental impacts

–  large and small companies in Chester County using renewable energy include:

Ar-Joy Farm,  Berwyn Squash and Fitness, Stargazers Vineyard, Marlborough Mushrooms, Lani Ice, Evergreen Environmental, Kimberton Whole Foods, Victory Brewing, Visual Technology, Pink Ribbon Farm, Mark Troupe Autobody (Honeybrook), Graber Supply Company,(Atglen), Baar Products, Heritage Metal, If It's Water Pools, O'Neill and Sons, Pro-Signs, Hilton Garden Inn (Exton), Reardon Dental (Downingtown), Heather Hill Farm (West Chester), Omnicable (West Chester), CertainTEED (Malvern) Aqua Pickering Plant,  Blue Moon Florist, Dansko, Tri-M, Wells Fargo (West Chester), Yates Mushrooms, Eagleview Senior Units, Kimberton Whole Foods.

Why:

 • Stand apart with values-driven operations and forward-looking leadership.
• To align with the core values and personal principles of growing numbers of consumers and foster loyalty, expand revenue opportunities, and turn customers into passionate advocates.
• Save money on energy costs by hedging against volatile fuel prices.
• Create safe, rewarding jobs.
• Protect worker and client health.

Other Positive Economic Impacts

• Economic Anaylsis of US Decarbonization Pathways
• Out of the starting blocks - Tracking progress on corporate climate action
• GM Commits to 100 Percent Renewable Energy by 2050
• ACCELERATING CHANGE: how corporate users are transforming the renewable energy market

 

Westtown School, West Chester Friends School, Church Farm Schools, Pheonixville High School, Henderson High School, Delaware Valley Friends School, Hillside Elementary, Camphill Village, Kimberton Hills, Stroud Water Research,  Green Valleys Association, Habitat for Humanity Homes (Coatesville), Jenkins Arboretum, Longwood Gardens, West Chester University, Cheney University,  Kesher Isreal, Calvary Lutheran (West Chester), Central Baptist Church.

Why: 

• commitment to a stable climate future for all children
• save money
• protect students’ health,
• model leadership
• lower emissions
• provide real-world learning experiences for students
• incorporate renewables into the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum

Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer delivered a letter encouraging their teams and facilities to begin using solar power as they continue the effort to green North America’s professional sports as long ago as 2010.  The leagues also distributed a comprehensive solar development guide outlining the work necessary for each stadium to add on-site solar power generation to its energy mix.

In Philadelphia, the Lincoln Financial Field (home of the Philadelphia Eagles) has 11,000 solar panels  the stadium recently LEED Gold certification, LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is the first stadium in the world to win Platinum certification for LEED from the United States Green Building Council. It has 4,000 rooftop solar panels and energy efficient LED lighting which includes the world’s largest LED lighting scoreboard,  using 29% less energy than the average stadium.

Of 126 pro teams in the five major sports more than 38 use renewable energy. Cities with solar powered statdiums: Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Boston, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Cleveland.

Why:

• cut their carbon emissions
• set a culturally high standard for sustainability
• align with the values of an ever growing number of fans
• stabilize their energy costs

The U. S. Armed Forces nearly doubled renewable power generation between 2011 and 2015. All branches of the military have set targets for renewable energy.

Why:  

• saves lives
• safer travel with mobile solar-power units
• using gas-electric hybrid battleships allows for fewer stops, making them less vulnerable to attacks
• maintain their own independent source of power in case of a natural disaster or any attack that disables the public grid.
• power batteries for communications, GPS and night-vision goggles and shut off generators which make soldiers easier to detect
• save tax payer dollars

Religious congregations across the country are stepping up to be good stewards. The Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program estimates that if America’s 370,000 congregations cut energy use just 20% it would save nearly $630 million per year that could be applied to missions. These energy savings would prevent the equivalent reduction in climate pollution of eliminating emissions from 480,000 cars, or planting 60,000 trees every year!

There are a number of programs Chester County houses of worship can participate in. Cool Congregations offers resources to guide you every step of the way in transitioning to clean energy: taking a “before” snapshot of your carbon footprint, finding ways to reduce, educating your congregation, taking an “after” snapshot, and celebrating the success! Once you have your worship facility reducing energy use, get your congregants involved in reducing energy use at home!

GreenFaith, headquartered in New Jersey, works to help local congregations because “the Earth and all people are sacred and at risk. GreenFaith is building a global, multi-faith climate and environmental movement. Together our members create communities to transform ourselves, our spiritual institutions, and society to protect the planet and create a compassionate, loving and just world.” They also have a program to support congregations known as the Fellowship Program.

In Chester County, Kesher Isreal (West Chester), Calvary Lutheran (West Chester), Central Baptist Church and Tenemos Retreat Center are among those who have begun their transition.

Why:

• care for neighbors and the commonwealth of life by caring for our common home
• reduce the climate change emissions from facilities
• help attendees and members reduce emissions at home
• serve as leaders in the wider community
• save money on energy to use for other important work
• reduce suffering due to climate disruptions
• reduce violence related to climate disruption