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Big Changes at the Energy Project

Phone number: (800) 832-3327

Ten years ago, the Meadville Community Energy Project began as an Allegheny College seminar on Sustainable Energy led by Professor Michael Maniates. Soon after, Kathy Greely came on board to develop the class's work into an ongoing program, as part of the College's Center for Environmental and Economic Development. Over the years, the Energy Project has taken a leadership role in the community on energy efficiency, alternative energy, energy education and climate change. In 2005, as its scope expanded, it became the Commonwealth Community Energy Project. Under the guidance of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, it has grown into a model for utilizing community partnerships to promote outreach, education, and technical assistance around issues of energy and climate. Now, after a decade of success as a non-profit entity, the Energy Project staff is continuing to pursue its goals in a market-sector approach as part of a new program called PA Home Energy.

PA Home Energy is designed to promote residential energy efficiency in both new and existing homes, through partnership with the ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR programs. It has three major components:
Contractor training and certification to RESNET and BPI standards;
Consumer marketing and outreach to promote PA Home Energy as a resource for whole house approaches to energy efficiency;
Performance-based incentives of $200-$1000 for homeowners in the Allegheny Power service territory.

PA Home Energy was developed by the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) and its founding partners - Allegheny Power, EPA, DOE, Performance Systems Development, Envinity, MaGrann Associates, and Affordable Comfort.

Kathy Greely is now employed as the Project Manager for PA Home Energy with Performance Systems Development (PSD), an Ithaca, NY-based company that partners with national and local companies to develop, implement and evaluate market transformation and market development programs that change the marketplace for energy and building services. Jane Anderson will also be working for PSD as the Administrative Assistant for State Based Programs. Jason Amory, who performed energy audits for the Energy Project as a sub-contractor, and was previously the director of Northwest PA Weatherization, is now employed by PSD as the PA Home Energy Building Performance Consultant. All three will continue to be based in Meadville. PSD is committed to helping continue the work of the Energy Project, particularly its residential programs and partnerships that share many common goals with PA Home Energy.

Please contact us for further information on resedential programs or energy audits for homes, schools, or other institutions.