A new green energy management consulting firm,
eCap Network, is moving into the Hill District's One Hope Square and plans to employ 15-20 people in the next 2 years, energy managers, engineers and technical consultants. And that's just the beginning.
Launched this January, eCap is moving from the Terminal Building as it transitions into the future
Green Innovators Center where it will be an anchor tenant. Formerly the Connelley Career and Technical Training Center, the site hopes to reopen as a center for cutting-edge sustainable technology training and research pending the sale of the property, owned by Pittsburgh Public Schools, to
Pittsburgh Gateways Corp. eCap takes a unique approach to long-term energy management planning, providing services to smaller-and mid-sized companies and organizations that typically might not consider an overall energy strategy because of the barriers, namely the challenge of obtaining funding and the overall audit procedure.
By serving as an impartial third party consultant, eCap creates a comprehensive roadmap to determine a facility's operating efficiencies and chart how to finance the projects that provide the greatest possible savings. Included are upfront financing suggestions, short and long term energy projects, brokered power and energy credits.
"As a total package it's absolutely unique," says John Werling, president." We have the ability to understand alternative funding sources, whether grants or loans, or rebate programs through the state. We look at the total technology solutions and funding opportunities."
One reason people have not historically adopted these types of projects is not because the technology doesn't exist but because they don't know whom to trust. Our model builds trust and accountability into the decision cycle, Werling says. A lighting company might offer to do a free audit, for example, when really what they're selling is lighting solutions.
eCap's initiative, 3rd SOURCE, offers solutions to non-profit organizations and their constituents, allowing them to reap the benefits of the savings, a sort of pay it forward approach. The initiative was designed with funding from the
Richard King Mellon Foundation and
The Heinz Endowments.
eCap is a joint venture with Pittsburgh Gateways Corp. and
World-Class Industrial Network and is supported by
Pittsburgh Central Keystone Innovation Zone.
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Debra Diamond SmitSource: John Werling, eCap Network
Image of John Werling courtesy of eCap Network