MONTGOMERY—A Birmingham-based non-profit company will help small cities in north and central Alabama save money through better energy conservation methods thanks to a $100,000 grant, Gov. Robert Bentley announced.

The grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will enable Waste Reduction and Technology Transfer Foundation to continue providing this service which includes conducting energy audits on government buildings as the first step in making them more energy efficient.

“Conserving energy means saving money, and that’s a goal for everyone in government,” Bentley said. “This program eliminates waste and helps makes local governments more fiscally responsible.”

Through an application process, WRATT will determine which cities in the ARC region have the most urgent need for an energy audit of their facilities. Thirty-seven counties in Alabama are part of the ARC which stretches into 13 states. Audits are expected to be conducted in six to 12 Alabama cities.

WRATT members, who are primarily retired engineers and scientists, also will help city officials learn about energy efficiency measures that communities can implement.

WRATT also will install solar panels on four buildings to further assist cities to save money on utility bills.

Since its beginning in the early 1990s, WRATT has conducted energy audits on more than 600 Alabama government buildings and schools, resulting in the savings through lower energy bills.

ARC was established by Congress in 1965 as a supplemental grant program to raise the standard of living, improve the quality of life and promote economic development in the Appalachian mountain region. The state’s part of the program is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.