READING, Pa.- The Green Building Alliance hosted a luncheon at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on Tuesday to discuss projects that have been completed to increase energy efficiency and sustainability in Berks County.
“We identified champions within the community that are committed to building their built environment better to make healthier, higher-performing buildings,” said Chief Operating Officer for Green Building Alliance Chris Cieslak.
Businesses on Spring Valley Road and South 3rd Street in Reading, along with Berks Catholic High School, are receiving funding to make energy efficient upgrades.
“Budgets are really important, and helping control this energy cost literally frees up thousands of dollars to do literally anything else,” said Bethany Ayers Fisher, sustainability manager for the City of Reading.
Christina Cervantes said starting her business, the Reading Cable Company, in the city was important to her, and she met with Ayers Fisher to connect with resources.
“We’ve been able to do some grants, we’ve been able to make sure that we’re being sustainable, we’re utilizing what’s in the building, reusing, repurposing,” said Cervantes.
The Green Building Alliance has been working with the City of Reading on a number of initiatives as well over the last two and a half years.
One of those sustainability projects is the installation of solar panels at city facilities.
“When you can start to generate that interest and get people to pay attention to Reading and what’s going on in Reading, it just can amplify what everybody’s doing,” Cieslak said.
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