HARRISBURG, Pa. — April 13, 2009 — Pennsylvania’s $25 million High Performance Building program will provide grants and loans to families and businesses constructing or renovating buildings that meet standards that measure a building’s overall sustainability. The program’s guidelines were approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

“The cheapest, cleanest energy is that which we do not use and by making our buildings more energy efficient, we’ll be able to significantly cut our energy bills and the pollution in our environment,” said Governor Edward G. Rendell, who noted that Pennsylvania is second only to California in the number of green buildings and that there are more than 5,000 manufacturers in the state producing green building products.

According to the United States Green Building Council, buildings account for nearly 40 percent of the nation’s total energy consumption and climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as almost 75 percent of total electricity use.

Loans of up to $2 million are available for small businesses; the maximum loan for an individual residential project is $100,000. Grants are not to exceed $500,000, or 10 percent, of total eligible costs, whichever is less. Applicants may apply for a grant or a loan, but not both.

For more information visit newpa.com