Jan 20, 2021 | Environment
Where do old or broken utility poles go?
The answer used to be landfills. But we’ve found a use for the poles that will reduce our impact on the environment by keeping tons of wooden waste out of landfills every year.
We work with a vendor that brings old poles to an industrial-waste-to-energy facility, where they are used as fuel in an environmentally responsible way to produce energy. Our wood recycling program and this agreement with our vendor reduce our cost to dispose of the poles as well. It’s a win for the environment and a win for us.
In 2019 alone, we recycled more than 7,000 tons of wood through this program. That’s just one part of our ongoing efforts to operate efficiently and provide service that is safe, reliable and a good value.
As we install new poles, we’re pleased to have found a better solution for the old ones.
Aug 7, 2020 | Energy Efficiency
While you’re spending most of your spare time outdoors enjoying the summer sun, you could be wasting electricity inside the house. Routine cleaning does more than leave your home looking great. It can also help you save money every month.
Whether you’re dusting or disinfecting, here are some ways to reduce your energy use, and save a few bucks:
- Redirect ceiling fans. Change the direction of your ceiling fans according to the season. In the summer, they should rotate counter-clockwise to push cool air downward. That will help keep your rooms cooler and give your air conditioning a break.
- Clean your oven. A clean oven can reach temperature faster and cook more efficiently. Self-cleaning ovens make the process easier, and they’re more energy efficient because they have better insulation. Only run the cleaning cycle on your self-cleaning oven once a month, but do it immediately after you use the oven. You’ll use less energy because the oven will already be hot.
- Dust your electronics. Televisions, smart speakers, DVD players, video game consoles, and internet routers are just a few surfaces where dust loves to settle. Keeping these areas dust-free helps motors run better, extending their shelf life and performance.
- Vacuum refrigerator coils. When’s the last time you looked behind your refrigerator? If it’s been a while, you may want to roll it out. Dust tends to build up on the coils, forcing your refrigerator to work harder to do its job. So, go ahead, give it a quick vacuum or wipe-down.
- Tune up your HVAC system. Heating and cooling can add up to 50% of your in-home energy use. Routine HVAC maintenance may require a small out-of-pocket expense, but the return on investment is incomparable. Regular maintenance keeps your system running efficiently throughout the year.
PPL’s Energy Efficiency Programs can offer simple tips and tools to reduce your electricity use inside and outside your home. Check out more ways to save.
Jul 29, 2020 | Energy Efficiency
Warm summer days are here!
Whether you’re lounging outside or catching up on home projects, these five tips will help you save energy — so you can put more money toward that beach trip and less toward your electricity bill.
- Plant a shade tree. Go green — literally. In Pennsylvania’s climate, shading the south and west sides of your home from summer sun is the most cost-effective way to counteract solar heat and lower your air conditioning costs. In addition to trees, well-planned landscaping that includes bushes, shrubs, vines or ground-cover plants can reduce your home’s air conditioning costs by up to 50%.
- Install smarter lighting. Your porch or front light can benefit from LED bulbs, which use up to 90% less energy than standard bulbs. For landscape lighting, consider low-voltage fixtures or solar-powered lights. You can also install timers or sensors so your lights don’t need to stay on all day.
- Seal from the outside. To help keep air conditioning inside, inspect the outside of your home for any leaks that might let that cool air escape. Caulking around your windows is a simple and inexpensive way to seal air leaks when new windows aren’t in the budget. Check the weatherstripping on exterior doors to see if there are any gaps. A combination of new weatherstripping and a door sweep (to fill gaps along the bottom of the door) can save on your utility bills in summer and winter.
- Reach for manual tools. Swapping power tools for a little elbow grease can save you money. Here are some ideas: Shape your shrubs with a hand pruner instead of a power hedge trimmer. Reach for clippers rather than the weed whacker. Opt for a rake over a leaf blower.
- Cool down your roof. Check your roof for air leaks and insulate it from inside the attic as a way to save on your air conditioning bill. When it comes time for a new roof, choose a cool roof, which uses special coatings that reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a regular roof. Bonus: Decreasing your roof’s temperature may actually extend its life.
PPL’s Energy Efficiency Programs offer simple tips and tools to reduce electricity use inside and outside your home. Check out more ways to save.
May 18, 2020 | Environment
Caring about the environment means more than just following rules and regulations.
It’s about doing more because you want to do more.
That’s why something like World Bee Day matters to us at PPL.
Right now, we’re working to come up with a program to grow pollinator-attracting plants on our own properties, as well as being able to offer pollinator seed mix to property owners when we’re restoring land after a construction project.
Pollination by bees, butterflies and other animals help produce 75 percent of the world’s food according to the World Economic Forum. However, declines in bee populations in several places, including North America, have scientists concerned.
In addition to pollinators, we’re engaged in other initiatives designed to improve the world around us. Our Community Roots program has provided more than 105,000 free trees to conservation organizations. We’ve also installed nesting platforms for ospreys across our service territory to help them stay away from power lines and ensure reliable service for our customers.
For more about our environmental activities, visit pplelectric.com/environment.
Dec 13, 2019 | Environment
Our employees helped ensure that a large amount of electronics will be recycled – rather than end up in a landfill. Nearly 1,000 electronics items were collected during the first-of-its-kind recycling event organized by our Environmental Compliance department earlier this year.
Among the items collected:
- 279 cables or cords
- 143 television sets
- 122 phones
- 119 computers
- 86 stereos or CD players
- 59 DVD, Blu-ray and VHS players
The event was designed to help employees recycle items that are becoming increasingly difficult to recycle. Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world.
The recycling event is among a number of initiatives we’ve undertaken to benefit the environment.
We also recycle wood poles and materials like copper, aluminum, steel and mineral oil. We’ve distributed thousands of trees to community organizations, schools and governments through the Community Roots program, and we recently started a Future Environmental Leaders Scholarship program.
Read more about our environmental commitment here: Environment and Energy Efficiency.
