Jersey City Public Schools and Lawrenceville-based DCO Energy, along with students and faculty from the district, are celebrating the start of work on the state’s largest Energy Saving Improvement Program project.
The $122 million project will deliver new LED lighting, upgraded building automation systems, cutting-edge solar energy technologies, renovated heating and cooling systems, water conservation and infrastructure improvements, helping the district save money, reduce its carbon footprint and bring a brighter, sustainable future for students.
DCO Energy is working closely with representatives of the Jersey City board of education, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to oversee and accomplish the ESIP project, which is expected to save the district $88 million over the next 20 years.
The ESIP project will receive an additional allocation of $64 million in federal grant funding and capital reserves to help assist the development of new sustainable improvements in the district.
Installing new HVAC equipment and solar panels will significantly improve indoor air quality and reduce emissions, allowing the school district to redirect the funding into educational programs while improving the quality of classrooms for students.
Jersey City Public Schools said it is excited to experience the benefits of green energy thanks to installing new cutting-edge solar energy technologies. Thirty-one schools will have renewable solar generation of almost 11 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. All the new solar energy created in the school district will help improve the district’s overall energy portfolio. With this technological advance, its green footprint will advance and generate 42% of its power on-site via solar.
