By Lauren Keller – 5/7/2026

Member Feature: Lynn on Sustainable Living at Home

Our members are the reason why we do what we do. Whether it’s through their energy choice that directly invests in renewable energy infrastructure or their advocacy for clean energy legislation at the local and state levels, their decision to be members of The Energy Co-op community is instrumental in the progress toward a more sustainable future for Pennsylvania. 

This month, we were excited to hear from long-time member Lynn, whose story highlights a central idea of sustainable living: consuming renewable energy and using it responsibly. When Lynn joined The Energy Co-op in the 1980s, she loved the idea of being part of a member-owned co-op. Since The Energy Co-op established our renewable electricity program in 1998 and renewable natural gas in 2015, Lynn has coupled her energy choice with her active sustainable lifestyle. Here, she shares some of her current energy-saving tips and how she supports that sustainable living, from cooking to heating and cooling her home: 

“Today, I’m looking to go more electric and use fewer fossil fuels. I use two radiant electric space heaters, which are more efficient for my usage than the blower type, and added a third, allowing me to keep my gas furnace at minimal operation. I choose to get my electricity and natural gas from The Energy Co-op, where it is 100% renewable. Since last year, I have been preparing my cooked meals with a single electric induction burner, which has been super-efficient – quick to heat, safe, and easy to clean. There are no gas fumes or leaks, particularly important for those with asthma. 

For cooking requiring more than five minutes on the burner, I use a South African product called a Wonder Bag that uses no fuel, and the cooking continues. Its super-insulating construction maintains high heat for hours. I have stopped using my gas stove. As a result, during the summer, my kitchen has remained comfortable. I do not have electric AC but have planted many trees that bring a multitude of blessings: oxygen, shade, wildlife, storm water retention, purifying the air of pollutants, and beauty! As my young trees grow, they’ve provided yet more shade. My house temperature on the first floor in recent summers has not risen over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. To my surprise, I’ve found summers at home in Philly more comfortable than previously!”

Lynn also shared how her approach to comfort at home extends beyond appliances and daily habits into the structure of her space. For her, sustainability isn’t just about what you use, but about how you prepare your home to work with the rhythms of the seasons and the environment. Thoughtful weatherizing, she explained, has allowed her to better manage temperature year-round while reducing overall energy demand. In the same way she rethinks how she cooks or heats her home, Lynn approaches weatherization as an ongoing, hands-on practice that blends practicality, curiosity, and a deep commitment to living lightly. 

“I have well-sealed, triple-glazed windows and high-quality cellular shades to seal off the elements of cold, heat, wind, and noise. I added inner storms to the old outer storms and sashes. My roof was cut through to the third-floor ceiling to create a ‘Passive Cooling Tower’ that allows movement of hot air up from lower floors and out through the rooftop. It works. I have stood beneath and felt the gentle breeze of this moving thermal air. I paid once for installation and have paid nothing since. I routinely adjust my windows, shades, and curtains, raising and lowering these on upper and lower floors, depending on relative temperatures. In the winter, it is continually a surprise at how hot the uppermost glass of a window may feel to my hand, while the room temperature feels chilly – time to raise the shade and open the curtains! It’s a home routine I enjoy as I survey my bit of Philly from one window’s perspective or another’s.” 

Lynn’s story is a reminder that sustainable living isn’t defined by a single change, but by a series of thoughtful choices that add up over time. Whether it’s adjusting daily routines, investing in more efficient technologies, or rethinking how our homes interact with the natural world, each step plays a role in building a more resilient and responsible energy future. 

Thanks so much to Lynn for sharing her story and thank you for reading! If you are interested in sharing about your Energy Co-op journey and any sustainable living or energy-saving tips to feature in a future blog post, please submit your entries to info@theenergy.coop. We look forward to reading more about how our members live sustainably.