PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today announced that Lime Energy has been selected to conduct energy audits of 104 municipal buildings throughout the County as a part of the Allegheny County Energy Efficiency & Conservation Program. Lime Energy will inspect lighting systems, heating and air conditioning, computer systems, and the overall thermal envelope to identify projects that can reduce energy usage and costs.

“The Allegheny County Energy Efficiency & Conservation Program will result in energy conservation projects in local government facilities throughout the County, which will translate into savings for taxpayers and jobs for local workers,” said Onorato. “This effort builds on our ongoing initiative to promote sustainable practices across Allegheny County.”

Lime Energy is expected to begin the audit process at the end of March and submit its reports by the end of July. Once the audits are completed, Lime Energy will analyze the results for each municipal building and recommend energy conservation measures to reduce energy demand and consumption, such as upgraded lighting, room occupancy sensors, insulation and other weatherization activities. Lime Energy’s contract with Allegheny County is for $212,000. The installation or retrofit of the conservation measures is planned for this fall. Duquesne Light will assist the County in monitoring the results of the facility improvements to ensure quantifiable and measurable energy savings.

The County will provide grants totaling $2 million to fund the municipal upgrades. Grant allocations will be based on the percentage of low- and moderate-income population in each municipality. Thirty boroughs and townships are eligible for grants covering 100 percent of upgrade costs, 55 municipalities will be eligible for grants covering 75 percent of costs, and 19 will be eligible for grants covering 50 percent of costs.

The Allegheny County Energy Efficiency & Conservation program is possible thanks to $8.1 million from the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant fostered by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.

In addition to the municipal energy efficiency program, Allegheny County is using $5.2 million for conservation projects in its 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. Projects could include replacing windows and lights, updating heating and cooling systems, and installing solar and other cutting-edge technology. Preliminary projections indicate Allegheny County could save more than $2 million in utility costs annually under the program.

# # #

Allegheny County Municipal Energy Efficiency Program Grant Eligibility

Grant eligibility is based on the percentage of low- and moderate-income population. Pittsburgh and Penn Hills have received separate funding directly from the federal government for energy efficiency and conservation programs. McDonald and Trafford’s municipal buildings are not located in Allegheny County, and they will participate in Washington County and Westmoreland County programs respectively. The following municipalities have indicated their willingness to participate in the County program.

Avalon; Braddock; Braddock Hills; Clairton; Dravosburg; Duquesne; East Deer Twp.; East  McKeesport; Elizabeth Borough; Etna; Glassport; Leetsdale; McKees Rocks; McKeesport; Millvale; Mount Oliver; North Braddock; Pitcairn; Rankin; Sharpsburg; Stowe Twp.; Swissvale; Tarentum; Turtle Creek; Verona; Versailles; Wall; West Elizabeth; Wilkinsburg; and Wilmerding.

Aspinwall; Baldwin Borough; Ben Avon; Bridgeville; Carnegie; Castle Shannon; Chalfant; Cheswick; Collier Twp.; Coraopolis; Crafton; Crescent Twp.; Dormont; Elizabeth Twp.; Emsworth; Fawn Twp.; Findlay Twp.; Forest Hills; Frazer Twp.; Harmar Twp.; Harrison Twp.; Heidelberg; Indiana Twp.; Ingram; Jefferson Hills; Kennedy Twp.; Kilbuck Twp.; Leet Twp.; Liberty; Lincoln; Monroeville; Munhall; Neville Twp.; North Fayette Twp.; North Versailles Twp.; Oakdale; Pleasant Hills; Plum; Robinson Twp.; Ross Twp.; Scott Twp.; Sewickley; Shaler  Twp.; South Fayette Twp.; South Park Twp.; Springdale Borough; Springdale Twp.; West Deer  Twp.; West Homestead; West Mifflin; West View; Whitaker; White Oak; Whitehall; and Wilkins Twp.

Grant Eligible Municipalities (24% and lower low- and moderate-income population)

Aleppo Twp.; Churchill; Edgewood; Edgeworth; Fox Chapel; Franklin Park; Green Tree; Hampton Twp.; Marshall Twp.; McCandless Twp.; Moon Twp.; Oakmont; O’Hara Twp.; Ohio  Twp.; Pine Twp.; Richland Twp.; Rosslyn Farms; Thornburg; and Upper St. Clair Twp.

Lime Energy is a leading provider of integrated energy engineering, consulting and implementation solutions. Lime specializes in improving the energy efficiency of its clients’ facilities, reducing their operating costs, energy use and carbon emissions. It focuses on two specific markets: the commercial and industrial market including utilities and the public sector market, deploying solutions including energy efficient lighting upgrades, energy efficiency mechanical and electrical retrofit and upgrade services, water conservation, weatherization and renewable project development and implementation. The company's stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol LIME. Additional information is available at the company's website at www.lime-energy.com or by calling 847-437-1666.

 Print Version