Infrastructure Summit & Opportunities for Saving

Don't miss the 3 ^rd annual R.I. Infrastructure Summit on Thursday, September 26th! Breakout sessions will focus on school construction, clean energy investments for businesses, resiliency, and sustainable economic development. For the full agenda, please visit our website .

Panel Feature : Save Green by Going Green: Clean Energy in the Hospitality Sector

Energy efficiency provides hotel owners and operators with cost savings that benefit the bottom line while also enhancing guest comfort and demonstrating a commitment to the environment. A modest 10% reduction in energy use can have a similar financial impact to an increase in the daily room rate. Learn how the Providence Marriott is leading by example through their recent building upgrades and how they found new ways to finance their project.

Free Energy Audits

The Infrastructure Bank and the Office of Energy Resources (OER) are offering energy efficiency initiatives for municipalities and quasi-state entities – free technical assistance and access to capital through the Efficient Buildings Fund (EBF) and free energy audits. Taken together, these tools have the potential to significantly reduce energy costs through targeted investment for energy efficiency building upgrades at public facilities.

Energy audits can identify inexpensive, easy-to-implement energy saving measures as well as comprehensive opportunities for energy reductions. These free, no-obligation audits, will help identify energy savings improvements for municipalities, quasi-state entities and public schools.

Results can be significant: the Town of Westerly has saved $243,000 in energy costs each year by utilizing this program. Whatever your facility – and whatever your energy saving goals – energy audits are a simple way to get a building energy “checkup” as well as take a first step towards participating in the Efficient Buildings Fund. Energy audit requests can be completed by filling out this form or by contacting Jerry Drummond at jerry.drummond@nationalgrid.com or 401-330-7834.

The Efficient Buildings Fund is a low-cost loan program to fund cash-flow positive energy projects where energy savings generated from the investment exceed the repayments for the loan. Since inception of the program in 2015, twelve municipalities have saved over $69 million in lower energy costs. These savings come from upgrading heating and cooling systems, LED lighting for facilities and streets as well as adding solar to their facilities’ roofs. Applications for project loans are due to the Infrastructure Bank by October 18 ^th. A loan application form can be found here.

Water Quality Protection Fund

The Water Quality Protection Fund is accepting applications for grants from qualifying public drinking water suppliers for projects that protect drinking water sources. Funding may support the purchase of watershed lands, property surveys and appraisals, water supply system management plans, as well as other physical improvements that directly protect the quality and safety of public drinking water supplies.

Recently, the Pawtucket Water Supply Board was awarded $425,000 for the purchase of land that will insulate and protect Diamond Hill Reservoir and Abbott Run River, which both lie within their watershed.

Applications for projects are available and submitted through the R.I. Water Resources Board , here.