Relevant

We are always adding to the list of Links to Other Resources below.  If you have a link that you would like us to add, please send to Scott Sheely, Project Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Green Building

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit community of leaders whose main goal is to make green buildings available to everyone. They offer information on how to become LEED Certified including workshops and exam preparation for individuals taking the LEED examinations. The USGBC also provides information on Green Building project profiles and general information for those wishing to learn more about environmentally friendly development. Click here to visit their website.

The American Counsel for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) provides a state level energy efficiency database covering state policies on building codes, tax incentives and climate policies. Other sections are available with information on various forms of legislation including climate and energy, and energy markets. Click here to view their webpage.

For homebuilders in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Builders Association endorses Living Green™ certification, the same green building standards and guidelines that the National Association of Homebuilders uses. Green Building Certification services can be obtained through the Green Communities Alliance which upon completion of the Living Green™ certified home will work with local media to garner print and television publicity to the home builders. Click here to view more information on the Green Communities Alliance.

EnergywisePA provides an online searchable directory of both residential and commercial contractors in both energy efficiency and solar. Listed are the contractors' locations, areas of specialty and relevant certifications. Pre-existing contractors can also become listed on this website to help potential clients find information on you and your services. Click here to search the database of contractors or to add yourself to the list.

Home Energy Efficiency

Free of charge, UGI Utilities, Inc. commercial and industrial customers can use and access the UGI Utilities Energy Advisor service. The UGI Utilities Energy Advisor service includes a Technical and Business "Ask an Expert" Hotline (one-on-one access to engineers and industry & business experts), proprietary information databases & libraries (including benchmark and targeted research tools), and monthly informational and resource-rich Newsletter.  Click here to connect.

Pennsylvania homeowners can improve the energy efficiency of their homes with special financing and rebates for high efficiency heating, air conditioning, insulation, windows, doors, geothermal and "whole house" improvements using Home Performance with Energy Star. The Keystone HELP® program helps make affordable energy efficiency available to all Pennsylvanians. Keystone HELP is administered by AFC First Financial Corporation, a Pennsylvania energy efficiency lender.  Click here to visit the Keystone HELP website.

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of government, business, and environmental leaders whose goals are to promote the need for efficient and clean use of energy worldwide. They have links for various programs and tips for both consumers and small businesses to reduce their consumption. There are a number of articles and information on various tax credits or other energy efficiency initiatives currently going on. More information on the resources available to consumers can be found by clicking here.

Small business owners and homeowners looking to make significant energy efficiency changes to their home or business can take advantage of numerous grant and loan opportunities offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Governor Rendell's Energy Independence Movement is addressing the need to invest in renewable energy and provides incentives for Pennsylvanians to take advantage of the resources available to them. A list of the grants and loans can be found by clicking here or by visiting the DEP's webpage at www.dep.state.pa.us/.

Preparing Your Small Business to Enter the Energy Marketplace

The Smart Energy Initiative of Southeastern PA works to promote growth in the areas of "smart" energy by providing comprehensive workforce and economic development services to partnering companies. They provide training in a variety of necessary certifications for the green industry including LEED, solar pv installation, Green Advantage certification, RESNET, BPI, and others. More information on these training programs can be found by clicking here or by contacting Sally Silver, Project Consultant at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

For individuals interested in customized training programs and certification in sustainable energy careers the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology offers a selection of courses that provide the necessary training and experience "green employers" are looking for. The Stevens Sustainable Energy Institute (SSEI) recognizes the growing need for individuals trained in the planning, management and installation of renewable and sustainable energy technologies. Click here to view the Green@Stevens webpage or visit www.stevenscollege.edu.

MANTEC is a non-profit organization with the goal of assisting South Central Pennsylvanian businesses strategically and continuously strengthen themselves. Their focus on sustainable development and partnership with several energy efficiency resources around the area give them a large list of resources to best serve small businesses interested in increasing profits while still keeping an emphasis on environmentalism. More information on services provided can be found by clicking here.

Environmental Sustainability

The Penn State Center for Sustainablility has compiled a list of resources to help consumers, the business and academic community identify the various services and products that contribute to sustainable energy that are available to Pennsylvanians. This PA Green Guide, in collaboration with PennTAP, allows users to search their extensive database by business, category, keyword or zipcode to find information needed in a broad range of energy efficiency topics and resources. Click here to view the guide and associated links.

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association has a webpage with a collection of articles, tips, and a large directory of sustainability experts or energy efficiency installers that be can searched and contacted through the site. Information on conferences and workshops is also readily available with a member section that allows users to post in a forum and communicate on a more personal level. Click here to view their website.

A good resource with a lot of information about the renewable energy initiatives currently going on in Pennsylvania is PennFuture. Employing their own legal team, PennFuture has details on environmental cases both current and past, and categorize them based on which area of environmental protection each case falls under. Whether it be water, air, mining, or energy they have a wide range of resources associated with each one that can show you the current initiatives going on in each area and ways to take action or learn more about each environmental problem we face. Click here to visit their website.