PPG to help inaugurate Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster

PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, will participate in a ceremony Sept. 27 to celebrate the awarding of $129 million in federal funds to create the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC), a five-year initiative designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the United States. PPG is one of five industry partners in the project, which includes 11 academic institutions, two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories, and several regional economic development agencies and community colleges. PPG will offer knowledge in a host of energy-efficient building technologies for both new construction and retrofit applications with a focus on innovations for the building envelope. The funds will create an Energy Innovation Hub at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, a 1,200-acre waterfront business development that includes 80 companies, 7,500 employees and 5.5 million square feet of building space. The award ceremony, which will take place at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, will include remarks from U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutting and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady.