Stephen Rex Brown

The neighborhood’s top shop for photocopies, the Source Unltd., is one of 11 business in the Lower East Side and East Village that scored grant money to make environmentally friendly upgrades.

Thanks to the money from the Lower East Side Ecology Center — $1,000 is the maximum grant available — the copy store bought a new awning that will decrease its air conditioner use. It went up last week.

“We’re on the sunny side of the street here, so it makes the air conditioner run a little less, especially with the summer coming up,” said Santo Mollica, who opened Source Unltd. in 1982. “From noon to four we get bombarded, you know.”

The awning isn’t the only eco-friendly measure the copy shop takes, though. The Source uses recycled paper for black-and-white photocopies, sells recycled notebooks and takes other steps to cut electricity expenses. “We’re aware of what we’re doing. We try and make it as little impact as possible,” Mr. Mollica said.

(Sadly, the copy shop’s unofficial mascot won’t be there to enjoy the shade. Satch the dog quietly passed away last summer at 15 years old.)

According to a press release from the ecology center, the improvements to small businesses participating in the program, dubbed EcoBizNYC, have eliminated 231,000 pounds of carbon dioxide on an annual basis, which is the equivalent of taking 20 cars off of the road.

Other businesses in the neighborhood that won this year’s round of grants include East Yoga, Grey Era Vintage and Studio Mo’Hair.

The ceremony for all the grant recipients will be held on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in Lina Frey on Houston Street, which also won some “green” cash of its own.