Going Green
As a space for education and artistic development for more than 150 years, the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) has always been focused on the future. With a recent grant, AAC is also working to make that future more sustainable.
This week, AAC was awarded a $922,212 grant through the Ohio Department of Development’s Advanced Energy Fund to partially complete a comprehensive series of energy-efficiency upgrades at its campus facilities in Over-the-Rhine, located in Hamilton County.
“By significantly lowering long-term utility costs, the Art Academy of Cincinnati will be able to redirect operational savings toward its core mission of educating and supporting emerging artists and designers, while also advancing sustainability goals that benefit the broader Cincinnati community,” said Joe Girandola, president and CEO of the Art Academy of Cincinnati.
The investment will support the replacement of the Academy’s HVAC system, upgrades to water heaters, and improvements to building controls and chillers. Once completed, the project is expected to reduce the Academy’s annual utility energy usage by an estimated 46 percent, one of the highest projected savings rates among recipients in this funding round.
“The Art Academy is actively seeking additional funding from foundations, private donors, and the City of Cincinnati to reach the full capacity of its capital campaign, which focuses on campus improvement in OTR.”
The Advanced Energy Fund provides grants to help educational institutions, nonprofits, municipalities, and businesses reduce energy consumption and operating costs through measurable efficiency improvements. All funded projects must demonstrate a minimum 15 percent reduction in energy usage.
“This investment from the state of Ohio strengthens the Art Academy of Cincinnati for the long term,” said Joe Girandola, President and CEO of the Art Academy of Cincinnati. “By dramatically reducing our energy usage, we are lowering operating costs while making smart, sustainable improvements to our campus that allow us to focus more resources on our students, faculty, and academic programs.”
“What makes the Advanced Energy Fund so unique is that it allows us to help organizations across all sectors stretch their dollars further,” said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Department of Development. “Whether it’s a school, nonprofit, or a local business, these upgrades mean real savings that can be redirected toward supporting the people and communities they serve.”
“By significantly lowering long-term utility costs, the Art Academy of Cincinnati will be able to redirect operational savings toward its core mission of educating and supporting emerging artists and designers, while also advancing sustainability goals that benefit the broader Cincinnati community,” said Girandola. “The Art Academy is actively seeking additional funding from foundations, private donors, and the City of Cincinnati to reach the full capacity of its capital campaign, which focuses on campus improvement in OTR.”
This award is part of a fourth round of funding totaling more than $8.3 million statewide to support energy-efficiency projects across nine Ohio counties. The Ohio Department of Development administers the Advanced Energy Fund as part of its mission to empower communities by investing in Ohio’s people, places, and institutions.