Education: New Jersey Schools

Local school districts realize significant energy cost savings and infrastructure improvements in the face of budget constraints. Projects will improve classroom comfort and drive sustainability efforts.

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, today announced the signing of three energy savings improvement programs (ESIPs) with New Jersey school districts that will drive more than $1 million in annual energy savings.

The Delran Township School District, Pennsauken Public Schools and West Deptford School District have embarked on unique ESIP projects that will encompass a wide variety of energy efficiency upgrades across 21 facilities.

“Many school districts throughout New Jersey are challenged with the need to modernize aging facilities to meet the needs of today’s student populations while struggling with significant budget constraints that limit their ability to invest in their learning environments,” said Tammy Fulop, Vice President, Schneider Electric. “New Jersey’s ESIP initiative gives school districts a much-needed chance to embark on critical infrastructure improvement projects that will create optimal learning environments for students today and provide a source of revenue to invest in future programs that enhance student learning.”

The Delran Township School District faced significant classroom comfort issues caused by outdated control systems and poor insulation. To address these issues, the district will implement more than a dozen energy conservation measures including new air conditioning units, improved lighting and rooftop solar panels at the district’s four schools that will produce 75 percent of the district’s electricity. In addition, students will have access to hands-on learning about energy efficiency through kiosks and dashboards that will display energy usage information. The project will reduce the district’s annual utility bill by 32 percent, which equals nearly $285,000. The district also expects to secure $325,000 in anticipated rebates and incentives from the NJ Clean Energy Program and the PJM Energy Efficiency Credit.

“We are thrilled to be able to implement $4.5 million in needed capital improvements at no cost to taxpayers in our community,” said Dr. Christopher Russo, Business Administrator, Delran Township School District. “In addition to dramatically improving classroom comfort for our students and staff, our partnership with Schneider Electric will help us achieve the prestigious Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification, which will allow us to further reduce energy waste and free up budget dollars to invest back into our classrooms.”

The Pennsauken Public Schools project will impact the district’s 12 buildings and include more than $17 million in capital improvements such as LED lighting, building automation system and building envelop upgrades. In addition, the district will install new roofs on seven buildings and produce renewable energy through a solar power purchase agreement (PPA) that will impact nine buildings. In total, the project will save the Pennsauken Public Schools more than $500,000 in annual energy costs.

“Our ESIP initiative will allow us to reallocate existing district resources to achieve goals and priorities we never thought were possible,” said Nicholas Perry, Board of Education President, Pennsauken Public Schools. “Not only did this innovative funding and construction approach help us fast track modernization work that would have taken years to complete, but it also allowed us to expand our scope to include more than just normal deferred maintenance. That’s a win for the entire community.”

The West Deptford School District project will encompass more than $10.5 million in capital improvements such as LED lighting and building envelop upgrades across the district’s five schools, as well as new IT server and phone system power backup capabilities. The district will also produce renewable energy through a solar PPA and install new roofs on three buildings. This project will produce more than $250,000 in annual energy savings.

“Partnering with Schneider Electric will allow us to address our most pressing energy efficiency challenges from every angle,” said William Thompson, Assistant Superintendent for Finance, West Deptford School District. “We are now better able to control our energy purchases, evaluate energy usage, validate utility bills and use our energy savings to reinvest back into our school facilities – all with no upfront investment.”

Representatives from Schneider Electric will discuss these energy efficiency projects at the New Jersey School Boards Association’s Workshop 2016: Partners in Student Achievement, taking place in Atlantic City, N.J. from October 25 – 27, 2016. Visit booth #405 to learn more.
Over the past 23 years, Schneider Electric has successfully implemented more than 575 energy savings performance contract projects across the nation, savings its clients nearly $2 billion. This project delivery method helps publicly funded entities make capital improvements over longer payback periods and offers many long-term benefits such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management and environmental protection.

For more information on Schneider Electric’s approach to K-12 energy savings, please visit www.enable.schneider-electric.com or contact your local Schneider Electric representative.

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