Living in Peace and Wisdom on our Planet

The Philadelphia-based electric and natural gas utility PECO has embarked on a five-year, $15.3 million initiative to become more environmentally friendly.

The utility announced its plans Wednesday while opening a new $2 million service site that the firm says is its first green building.

The new facility is expected to use 20 percent less energy and 40 percent less water as a result of features that include energy monitoring equipment, energy efficient lighting, reflective roofing materials and low-flow water devices. About 60 PECO employees work at the site West Chester, Penn.

The company's plans for other eco-friendly measures include installing a green roof – which the firm says will be the largest on an existing building – on its north tower in Philadelphia, replacing its distinctive exterior lighting system with an energy efficient LED system that has color capability, increasing wind energy purchases to supply the firm's main building, increasing investment in electricity from renewable resources for customers, ramping up use of hybrid and biodiesel vehicles, and seeking LEED certifications following improvements to several existing buildings.

PECO serves 1.6 million electric customers and 480,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is a subsidiary of the Exelon Corporation, an energy giant based in Chicago.