PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today announced that the R.K. Mellon Foundation has awarded the County a $400,000 grant to be used toward energy-saving upgrades to municipal buildings identified during energy audits as a part of the Allegheny County Energy Efficiency & Conservation Program.

“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. I want to thank the Richard King Mellon Foundation for providing additional funding to make even more energy-savings retrofits possible.”

The Allegheny County Energy Efficiency & Conservation Program utilized $8.1 million from the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The County is providing grants totaling $2 million to fund the municipal upgrades. Grant allocations are 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 are eligible for grants covering 75 percent of costs, and 19 are eligible for grants covering 50 percent of costs.

Applied Energy Management, a subsidiary of Lime Energy, conducted energy audits of 104 municipal buildings throughout the County, including inspecting lighting systems, heating and air conditioning, computer systems, and overall thermal envelope. Once the audits were completed, Applied Energy Management analyzed the results for each municipal building and recommended energy conservation measures to reduce energy demand and consumption, such as upgraded lighting, room occupancy sensors, insulation and other weatherization activities. Duquesne Light will assist the County in monitoring the results of the facility improvements to ensure quantifiable and measurable energy savings. Of the 104 municipalities taking part in the audit, 76 are participating in the energy-saving upgrades.

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.

100% Grant Eligible Municipalities (47% and higher low- and moderate-income population)

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.

75% Grant Eligible Municipalities (25% to 46% low- and moderate-income population)

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.

50% 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.

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