Ice house raised in Pittsburgh's Market Square to help heat homes for people in need
For some people, even during a relatively mild winter, the cost to heat their home can be an extreme hardship.
The Dollar Energy Fund was created to help low-income households pay utility bills. To support its work, a Cool Down for Warmth event will be held Thursday and Friday in Pittsburgh’s Downtown — starring an ice house, constructed in the middle of Market Square.
Visitors to the ice house will be asked to donate to Dollar Energy Fund’s Hardship Program while becoming aware of the needs of those who struggle to heat their homes during winter.
Something COOL is coming to Market Square! ❄️ Tour the ice house on Thursday & Friday as we raise funds and awareness for our #Pittsburgh neighbors in need. #CoolDownForWarmth @Mastro_Ice pic.twitter.com/BSGHkw4hwb
— Dollar Energy Fund (@DollarEnergyFnd) January 22, 2020
The 1,000-square-foot ice house took three days to build. The 8-foot-tall structure includes a bathroom with a toilet, tub and sink, complete with a faucet. It also features appliances sponsored by Dormont Appliances, dining and living rooms and an attached garage containing a car from Jim Shorkey Automotive Group. There’s a (nonfunctioning) ice ATM sponsored by Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania.
Dynegy, a retail electric service provider, is the main sponsor of the event.
The house is made of 249 blocks of ice, each weighing 300 pounds. It takes six months to freeze the ice.
New this year: Brian Carothers of RE/MAX Select Realty will include the ice house in a real estate listing, and a carved-ice open house sign will be placed near the entrance.
“You can rent the house, not buy it — because it will be gone by Friday,” said Jody Robertson, director of communications for Dollar Energy Fund. “All donations will help. We built it so the public can learn about the people we help.”
Utility partners Peoples Gas, First Energy, Columbia Gas and Duquesne Light will match the funds raised dollar for dollar, Robertson said.
“We bring Cool Down for Warmth to Market Square to draw attention to the many households in this region who struggle to afford the basic costs of heat-related utility service,” said Chad Quinn, chief executive officer of Dollar Energy Fund. “Each year, this event serves as a way for us to spread the warmth to our neighbors in need.”
Pittsburgh company Mastro Ice worked on the house. Sitting on the side of the bathtub, owner Mike Mastro said, “We tried to get the water to run, but it kept freezing. … The message is for Dollar Energy to raise funds for people who have a difficult time paying their utility bills in the winter.”
“It is cool to be involved in this project,” said Dan Shaffer, ice carver for Mastro Ice.
Mastro said the tools they use are similar to what a woodworker would use to cut down a tree. They cut the ice with a chainsaw and use chisels like a carpenter and levels to make sure the house and its insides are properly aligned. They use heaters to fuse the ice together.
Cool Down for Warmth has provided $841,000 in utility assistance to more than 2,400 local households during its first five years, according to press materials. Each year, more than 10,000 households in Pennsylvania turn to Dollar Energy Fund for assistance with their utility bills.
The house will be open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
The Bowls for Warmth Soup Tasting, including 20 soup choices such as chicken pot pie, Italian wedding and roasted vegetable minestrone, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.
The radio station 3WS (94.5 FM) will be on site both days. The Pitt football team will be there at noon Friday. An ice selfie wall sponsored by Dunkin’ will be available for photographs.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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