In Honor of Ben Franklin’s 310th Birthday PECO Reminds Customers of Some of the Many Ways to Save Energy and Money!

January 17 marks Founding Father Benjamin Franklin’s 310^th birthday. With his invention of the lightning rod, Franklin played an integral role in the early stages of the development of electricity.

In honor of Franklin’s birthday, PECO reminds customers of some easy ways to help save energy – and money.

• Use a power strip with an on/off switch to completely power down electronics around your home, including DVD players, computers and coffee makers.
• Unplug your mobile phone charger, portable music player or other electronics once they are fully charged, and always unplug all nonessential devices before leaving for out-of-town travel.
• Manage your thermostat. Keep thermostats set at a constant, comfortable level. Lower thermostats a few degrees when sleeping or while out of your home for more than a few hours.
• Do not block air flow. Make sure your furniture and drapes are not blocking heating vents.
• Take advantage of natural sunlight by opening curtains and drapes during the day to let the sun warm your home and closing them at night for insulation.
• Do not heat unused areas. Close vents and shut doors to unused rooms, closets and basements.
• Keep the heat inside. Check for drafts around windows and doors, and seal any openings with weather stripping or even a rolled up blanket. A drafty house lets warm air escape and is much more costly to keep warm – especially on the coldest days of the season.
• Change your furnace filter regularly. A dirty filter forces the furnace to work harder. Have the furnace inspected by a licensed professional to ensure it is operating efficiently and to seal any leaks in furnace ducts.
• Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120°F and conserve hot water when you can.
• Look for energy-efficient appliances. When shopping for appliances such as refrigerators and freezers, look for the ENERGY STAR^® label, as those products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Newer, more energy-efficient models can lower monthly operating costs.

Looking for even more ways to save energy and money? With PECO Smart House Call, we’ll send an energy advisor to your home, provide a personal energy assessment, and offer energy-efficient upgrades on the spot. Learn more at peco.com/smartideas.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). The company’s 2,400 dedicated employees provide advanced, innovative energy solutions to 1.6 million electric and more than 506,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2014 PECO delivered 89.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 37.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and had an estimated economic impact of $4.5 billion in Pennsylvania, supporting more than 9,600 local jobs and producing $760 million in labor income. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations. For more information visit PECO.com, and connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.

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