HACKENSACK, NJ — With the recent approval of a New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Energy Savings Improvement Plan (ESIP), the Hackensack Board of Education will begin energy improvement projects valued at $12.5 million, without utilizing its capital reserve or impacting taxpayers.
The proposed improvements will ultimately result in cost savings of nearly $11 million over the next 20 years and reduce Hackensack’s carbon footprint by 5,146,261 pounds of CO2 annually.
The school board pursued the ESIP program—designed to provide public entities a funding option for energy-related improvements using the value of the energy savings that result from the projects—to pay for the much-needed upgrades to address the district’s growing student population and aging facilities. Projects include:
• HVAC upgrades at all schools including 53 classrooms at Hillers School and Hackensack Middle School, which will also receive ventilation upgrades;
• Replacing unit ventilators, steam traps, radiators, boilers, transformers, air handlers and chillers across all facilities;
• The replacement of more than 10,000 lighting fixtures with LEDs;
• Solar panels on all buildings, a project that will save $206,000 annually;
• Weatherizing all building envelopes;
• Upgrading building controls to enterprise management systems;
“This milestone is the next step forward in implementing important projects that will increase energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption and improve the educational experience for all students and staff,” said Hackensack Superintendent Robert Sanchez.
“The HVAC and window replacements are particularly timely as the board prioritizes ensuring that students, faculty and staff are returning to healthy buildings,” said Donna Coen O’Gorman, AIA, LEED green associate, project manager for DMR Architects.
According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the average American car emits about seven tons of CO2 a year.
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