A PSE&G energy audit is underway at West Windsor’s municipal building that aims to find greener solutions for the township’s use of gas and electricity.
The audit, conducted by PSE&G through its Small Business Direct Install Program, is free for PSE&G businesses and governments that use under 200 kilowatt hours of energy, according to township landscape architect Dan Dobromilsky.
Consulting groups from PSE&G began the one to two-week examination of the township building on October 26, during which they looked at factors including the type of light bulbs, switches, and motors on the equipment that the township is using. Because they are familiar with the equipments and they can determine items that can be replaced with more sustainable equipment, Dobromilsky said.
PSE&G will pay for 80 percent of the cost of implementing those changes, he added. The township would be required to pay the remaining 20 percent, either up front or in the form of a two-year interest-free loan attached to its bill. “The goal is that the savings basically pay the loan off. After two years, it costs you zero dollars, and you now have more efficient equipment that you reap the benefit from.”
Business Administrator Robert Hary said there was also “a possibility that we could create a positive cash flow, even before the two years are ended, but we would have to wait to see the results of the audit before we make that determination.”
Pat Ward, the township’s director of community development, said PSE&G made a presentation to the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce, during a special mayors’ meeting, at which time they discussed the program.
“We took the initiative to call PSE&G and asked to be the first on the list,” Hary said. “Their contractor contacted us, and we did get ourselves placed on a priority list, which got us moving ahead of others.”
Dobromilsky said that while the energy audit only covers electric and gas, the township can still look at conducting a full sustainability audit, as called for by members of the Township Council as well as the sustainability element of the township’s Master Plan — adopted last month by the Planning Board.
Hary said he hopes to have the audit completed by November 6. The report will come within a month.
“The timing is very good, given that we passed our sustainability element for the Master Plan,” said Ward. “There’s a lot of new technology available to us now.”
