Greenworks Pilot Energy Technology Program Receives Funding
Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that the city of Philadelphia would offer grants to three local businesses developing cutting-edge green technologies.
This effort, entitled Greenworks Pilot Energy Technology Program (G-PET), will help the companies conduct real-world pilots of their products, helping their products successfully to market. G-PET was developed by the City of Philadelphia and implemented in partnership with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) and the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP).
Businesses receiving grants are BuLogics, a building energy management systems firm and BFTP/SEP portfolio company; NovaThermal, a maker of innovative heat pumps; and Niche Recycling, a manufacturer of sophisticated food waste management systems.
The goal of this innovation program, the only one of its kind in the United States, was to find companies whose products had sound technical footing and strong business plans but were still relatively untested.
“We are truly thankful to be a recipient of the G-PET grant,” said Mirka Walczak, chief executive officer of BuLogics, Inc. “Our company mission is to help others save energy through our inventions, while maintaining a socially and environmentally responsible attitude in all that we do. And the G-PET grant allows us to do just that.”
BuLogics was awarded $175,000 for new energy control system at the Navy Yard and the Inn at Penn. Nova Thermal was awarded $150,000 for a new heat pump for building heat and energy extraction from effluent stream at the Philadelphia Water Department Facility. Niche Recycling received $18,500 for a project composting dumpster for bio-waste at the Navy Yard.
G-PET Applicants applied online and were reviewed by a panel of independent scientists and investors. G-PET is funded by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“G-PET is unique. Its goal is to fund pilot testing of new energy-related products being developed by innovative, regional enterprises. That work will help accelerate the introduction of new products into the marketplace,” said RoseAnn B. Rosenthal, president and CEO of BFTP/SEP.
Given the success of the first round of G-PET, a second round of funding is being made available immediately. Applicants can apply online here.
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