Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Receives $25,000 Grant From West Penn Energy Fund For Facility Energy Assessments

On June 11, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced a $25,000 grant from the West Penn Energy Fund that will support energy and facility assessments at the Conservancy’s headquarters in Pittsburgh and at buildings on the Fallingwater grounds in Mill Run in Fayette County.

As part of ongoing sustainability efforts, the Conservancy seeks to conduct energy assessments of 14 buildings on the Fallingwater grounds to ensure that future energy-related improvements are efficient. 

The Conservancy’s Pittsburgh office, a three-story 38,200-square-foot structure, is located on Washington’s Landing, an island in the Allegheny River. 

While the Conservancy has made several efficiency improvements to the building since acquiring it in 2025, an energy assessment will help ensure the office operates at peak efficiency. 

The WPEF-funded assessments will guide future energy improvements to these structures.

Mike Kuzemchak, the Conservancy’s associate vice president of government and community relations, says the WPEF grant will ultimately fund projects focused on reducing energy costs and carbon emissions, while helping the Conservancy engage the public on sustainability issues and serve as a model for operational sustainability.

“Seeking ways to improve our energy efficiency is the primary objective of this project, so we’re extremely grateful to the West Penn Energy Fund for supporting this important work that will have an immediate and long-term benefit to support the Conservancy’s operational, environmental, and sustainability goals,” he added. “This project is a natural continuation of the existing and ongoing sustainability projects and initiatives that we’re already doing to support a greener Western Pennsylvania.”

Work on the project will begin immediately to identify potential implementable energy conservation measures to reduce energy consumption in the buildings. 

Also, a report will be developed that summarizes existing energy usage, the viability of renewable energy, a list of potential ECMs, and recommendations on which ECMs should proceed to further development. 

The assessments, which will be conducted by a qualified energy assessor, are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

“We are proud to support the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy as it evaluates opportunities to improve energy efficiency across its facilities. Projects like this help organizations reduce operating costs, strengthen sustainability efforts, and make informed investments for the future,” said WPEF Fund Administrator Joel Morrison.

Click Here for the WPC announcement.

The West Penn Energy Fund a nonprofit seeking transformational projects that will support the deployment of sustainable energy technologies in a manner that will improve the economic and environmental health of communities within the West Penn Power service region.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy enhances the region by protecting and restoring exceptional places. 

A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped establish 11 state parks, conserved more than 297,000 acres of natural lands, protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, and assessed thousands of wildlife species and their habitats.

(Photo: WPC Pittsburgh office.)

[Posted: June 12, 2026]  PA Environment Digest