(PITTSBURGH) August 8, 2012   Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today announced that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Board of Directors will vote to expand the URA’s successful pilot Business Energy Savings Program citywide. The additional $20,000 in funding will allow the program to conduct energy audits for 50 small- to medium-sized businesses. Created in June 2010, the pilot program included a $400 URA matching grant toward the cost of an energy audit, which provided recommendations for energy efficiency improvements along with projected costs and savings. 

 

"By expanding the Energy Savings Program citywide, we are progressing the greening of our city while helping local small businesses save money by reducing their utility bills,” Ravenstahl said.

 

Businesses that made the improvements were then eligible for a low interest loan of up to $50,000 through the URA’s Pittsburgh Business Growth Fund. Loans could be used for qualifying energy efficiency improvements including insulation, air and duct sealing, efficient heating and cooling systems, lighting, refrigeration, water heating equipment, other high-efficiency equipment and efficient windows and doors.

 

Working with AllFacilities Energy Group, six businesses served as pilot cases and helped develop the “Energy Tracker” - an affordable, comprehensive and easy to understand and implement energy audit for small businesses that details the return on investment of making specific energy efficiency upgrades. 

 

“So far, five of the six property owners expressed an interest in implementing the energy improvements,” said Tom Link, director, URA Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “One of the businesses has already received a URA financing commitment to complete energy efficiency upgrades.”  

 

The participating businesses include: 

For these six businesses, a total of $137,000 in improvements were recommended, which would result in an average energy cost savings of 15 percent, or approximately $18,000 annually, for each business.

 

Businesses who participate in the program must be located in the City of Pittsburgh, current on all federal, state or local taxes and any existing private or publicly financed loan, and will be required to sign an affidavit to that effect.  Businesses will also be required to provide follow-up reporting to the URA as to the implementation of the improvements and annual cost savings.  

 

For more information, visit www.ura.org or contact Tom Link at 412-255-6540. The URA Board of Directors meets Thurs., August 9 at 2 p.m. in the URA offices at 200 Ross St., Downtown.