City to help seniors chill out this summer

With summer’s worst on the way, groups are doing the best they can to help seniors and the poor stay cool.

With summer’s worst on the way, groups are doing the best they can to help seniors and the poor stay cool.

Although most of us take it for granted, many poor people do not have air conditioning, not even a window unit to cool one room.  Liz Robinson is Executive Director of the Energy Coordinating Agency in Philadelphia.  She says in the winter there is energy assistance, but that’s not the case in the summer.

“Unfortunately there really isn’t the level of recognition that summertime heatwaves can present health threatening and life threatening conditions for seniors,” said Robinson.

ECA is working to help people keep their homes cooler by using white roof coatings that help keep the temperature inside homes from rising as much.  Robinson adds it’s tougher in neighborhoods without street trees.  Their shade help keep homes cool.