Enjoy the recap from our latest webinar

In Philadelphia, 79% of carbon emissions come from buildings. Although much of that is municipal and business, that leaves a lot of opportunities to reduce our footprints at home.

Green Philly hosted a webinar on green homes on November 3rd. Local experts on the panel included Deborah Solo, Solo Real Estate; Marc Shackelford-Rowell, Solar States; Jeanne Weber, Philadelphia Green Roofs; Jeremy Avellino, Bright Common and was moderated by Rebecca Nichols Franqui, Solo Real Estate.

Here are a few of the biggest takeaways.

5 things to know about sustainable homes.

1. Philadelphia townhomes are set-up for sustainability. As Deborah Solo mentioned early in the webinar, the shared walls, energy efficiency and space are a great starting place.

2. Water will become more problematic as climate change makes Philadelphia hotter and wetter. Pay attention to signs of water infiltration. According to Avellino, homes near underground streams can also cause flooding, so check maps.

3. Look for tree-lined streets while home searching! They fight climate change and save you money. Trees mitigate the heat island effect and cut down on your AC bills. You can apply for free trees through TreePhilly or PHS.

4. Learn how to save energy through PECO. PECO offers home energy audits to help you determine where your home may be wasting energy, and how to lower your bills.

5. Support local and cut down your Amazon addiction. As Avellino attests, shipping things from all over the world really adds to our carbon emissions.

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Thanks to Solo Real Estate for sponsoring this program.

Watch the recap on Instagram

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher