Working with a short time table, the city of Austin is looking to get in a grant application that could bring $100,000 in for a new, energy-efficient boiler at Riverside Arena.

The application is due by Wednesday, and parks and recreation director Kim Underwood said staff only first heard of the opportunity late last week. But Underwood said a frantic few days would be worth it if the city landed the grant.

“It’s energy efficiency,” Underwood said. “That’s what this is all about.”

The $100,000, which would come from a state Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, would not require a local match. However, Underwood said fully replacing the boiler is estimated to cost $110,000, meaning the city would be on the hook for $10,000.

But that would be a wise investment, Underwood said. The parks and recreation director said the energy savings that would come from the more efficient boiler would equal roughly $11,000 per year alone. In addition, a scheduled tune-up to the current boiler in 2013, estimated at $50,000, would no longer need to be performed.

Underwood said she expects to hear whether the application was a success by mid-March. If funds do come Austin’s way, the project must start no later than June 1 of this year.

City council gave the application — and the potential, short-term $10,000 expenditure — its full backing Monday night.