The evaluations, she says, are short of a full, more technical audit but are the first step for building owners. "We could recommend an engineering study if, for example, someone needed HVAC looked at," she says. "With an evaluation, they'll still have enough information to help them."

Like all federal stimulus projects, the program aims to create jobs. Those extend from the initial evaluation to construction and installation of "green" materials in the building.

But the other longer-term benefit is the energy savings for building owners that could last for decades. Part of the grant's requirements is that DEGC track and report energy costs in the buildings.

"We're going to be reporting the energy savings that are realized in each of these projects. We're going to have, ultimately, by the time we're finished, a pretty comprehensive database of information on a variety of projects," Veldhuis says.

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