Calling on the Committee on the Environment to hold hearings on adopting a City-wide Energy Conservation Education campaign to help Philadelphians save energy and money in their homes, businesses, places of worship, schools and other buildings.

WHEREAS, The City Council of Philadelphia exists to promote the welfare of citizens, and recognizes that high and rising energy prices cause great economic and social harm to our citizens and to the quality of life in our city; and

WHEREAS, Energy consumption produces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change; and

WHEREAS, Electricity prices are expected to rise precipitously when PECO Energy’s rate caps come off in 2010; and

WHEREAS, Natural gas and fuel oil prices have more than doubled in the last four years; and

WHEREAS, Natural gas prices are expected to rise again this year; and

WHEREAS, Utility service terminations and summer heat waves present life threatening situations for many of our low income and elderly citizens; and

WHEREAS, Energy conservation education has proven to be an extremely effective and efficient way to reduce energy consumption in homes, offices, schools, and other buildings; and

WHEREAS, Establishing an active, comprehensive City-wide effort to educate Philadelphians on how to save energy and money while helping the environment, can potentially save millions of dollars and reduce both financial and social hardship which result directly from high energy bills; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia City Council must continue its efforts to promote a greater public understanding of energy use through outreach and communication efforts, demonstrating that Philadelphia is committed to conserving energy by launching a coordinated, City-wide energy education campaign by holding hearings through the Sustainability Task Force under the auspices of the Committee on the Environment; now, therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, that we hereby authorize the Committee on the Environment to hold hearings on adopting a City-wide Energy Conservation Education campaign to help Philadelphians save energy and money in their homes, businesses, places of worship, schools and other buildings.

End