Effort will lead to capital improvements and guaranteed cost savings for taxpayers

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today announced that NORESCO, an energy service company, is conducting an investment-grade audit of electricity, steam, natural gas and water usage in the County’s 19 largest facilities, including the County Courthouse, County Office Building, County Jail, Shuman Juvenile Detention Center, Health Department facilities in Oakland and Lawrenceville, and all four Kane regional centers. NORESCO expects to complete its audit by the end of April, at which time it will present the County with a list of efficiency recommendations.

“Allegheny County is working with NORESCO to identify significant energy and water conservation projects in our 19 largest buildings, a quarter of which are more than 70 years old,” said Onorato. “The audit will help us to prioritize upgrades and capital improvements that will result in the biggest impact through improved energy efficiency and cost savings. Our efforts could include replacing windows and lights, updating heating and cooling systems, and installing solar and other cutting-edge technology.”

Once NORESCO finishes its audit and recommendations, the County will enter into a guaranteed savings contract, meaning if the suggested improvements do not achieve the estimated savings, the company will pay the County the difference. Preliminary projections indicate Allegheny County could save more than $2 million in utility costs annually under the program.

“Our goal is to reduce County government’s overall energy consumption, water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent in five years,” added Onorato. “All of these changes will significantly reduce the County’s ecological footprint in the future.”

Allegheny County will use $5.2 million from the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant program funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.

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