The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has launched its Energy Manager Training Program for state employees — an eight-month program intended to help leaders at the state’s 12 agencies manage their energy use and costs while developing an energy plan that works in conjunction with the BPU Division of State Energy Services.
The energy managers, who will be trained by staff from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, will meet monthly to learn the technical side of energy management. The training includes practical, hands-on tasks that will help to inform state agencies of their energy use, ways to manage energy costs and consumption, and create a plan to upgrade a state facility.
Every state agency is required to have an energy manager to manage its energy use and costs.
BPU officials said the first class of the program, which is open to any energy manager, has approximately 30 people representing the 12 state entities, which include state departments and state agencies. The BPU anticipates having additional cohorts moving forward.
Clean Buildings Working Group
Gov. Phil Murphy — saying the road to his 100% clean energy goals needs to hit all aspects of energy use — announced Monday that the state is starting a Clean Buildings Working Group that will study how to bring efficiency to one of the biggest contributors to state’s carbon footprint. See our story here.
BPU President Joe Fiordaliso said the role of state energy managers is a critical piece of New Jersey’s clean energy future.
“Collectively, our state agencies are one of the largest energy users in New Jersey,” he said. “By participating in this program, they contribute to our ability to ‘Lead by Example’ and reduce the effects of climate change by increasing efficiency and reducing demand.”
Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration said it has made a commitment through the Clean Energy Act, the Energy Master Plan and other major clean energy initiatives to make the state a national clean energy leader.
State agencies have invested in energy upgrades through Energy Savings Improvement Program projects, lighting upgrades, building controls and efficient HVAC equipment. This training is not only giving state employees additional skills, but it is developing a peer-to- peer network to exchange best practices and leverage technical skills.
“State employees are part of the solution of solving today’s energy challenges and creating new paths of saving energy going forward,” Fiordaliso said.
