Hillsborough Part Of Energy Savings Incentive Program

Submitted by Somerset County

Somerset County Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, liaison to the county Energy Council, has announced the results of a countywide Energy Savings Incentive Program (ESIP) study, which was undertaken as an outgrowth of the county’s successful Energy Audit Grants Program.

“One of the most important lessons learned from this analysis is the enormous potential savings that local government entities – as well as home and business owners – can achieve by implementing energy conservation measures,” said Freeholder Scaglione.

The Somerset County Energy Council, in collaboration with Hillsborough Township, received a 2013 Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program award that was used to hire The Center for Building Knowledge at the NJ Institute of Technology to evaluate the results of the 2009/2010 Somerset County Energy Audit Grants Program, which was funded by the Board of Chosen Freeholders in the amount of $1 million.

The NJIT study also evaluated how new state legislation and energy program offerings since that time can be used to encourage greater implementation of energy conservation measures (ECMs) by local government entities.

The final report, “Somerset County Energy Council: Framework for Establishing a Somerset County Energy Savings Program,” was completed last month and is available at http://bit.ly/ESIPStudy

The analysis shows that of the 83 local government facilities that were audited through the county’s program, 55 applications for ECM implementation funding were made to the NJ Clean Energy Program. Funding in excess of $1 million was secured for implementing projects at 35 of those facilities. The resulting operational savings attributable to reduced energy consumption at the 35 locations total nearly $500,000 annually and are expected to reach $8 million over their anticipated life.

Lighting, lighting controls and HVAC controls are the most common ECMs implemented thus far, and account for more than 80 percent of the electrical and natural gas savings. The analysis also reveals that these are a relatively small percentage of the potential savings that could be achieved if ECMs were to be implemented at the other 400-plus local government and public school facilities countywide. It is estimated that savings over the life of the improvements could top $66 million at all locations.

Of the various types of public facilities, K-12 schools and municipal offices have the greatest saving potential if ECMs are implemented. The analysis also found that the ECMs that are right for one facility type may not be best for another type; and the type of program chosen to implement ECMs should also be matched to the unique circumstances of the local jurisdiction.

“In addition to saving money and energy as more public- and private-sector entities get involved in implementing energy conservation measures, the energy-service industry within the county will grow – and investment in the development of new, more cost-effective energy-efficiency technologies can be supported,” said Freeholder Scaglione.

“The information contained in this analysis can be used by state, county and local government entities for deciding what type of funding program or combination of programs best match their capabilities and energy savings goals,” he said. “It also provides insights into the types of government assistance programs that may be beneficial in the future.”