Green Schools | News

New Jersey District To Save $1 Million Annually with Energy Upgrades

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 08/26/14

New Jersey's Hillsborough Township Public Schools is undertaking a series of energy upgrades that will save the district approximately $1 million each year.

The upgrades include improvements to the district's heating, cooling, lighting and energy management systems and will reduce the district's energy usage by about half.

Funding for the initiative came from a $1.7 million rebate from "Pay for Performance," a New Jersey Clean Energy Program project "that provides incentives for implementing whole-building energy improvements," according to a news release. Additional funding will come from a performance contract with Honeywell, the company installing the upgrades. As part of the contract, the school will be able to make building improvements with the energy cost savings, which are guaranteed.

"It's a challenge for school districts like ours to budget for facility needs," said Jorden Schiff, superintendent of Hillsborough Township Public Schools, in a prepared statement. "We want our resources directed to students, but realize the physical space is extremely important. With this program we don't have to choose between student-focused initiatives and more modern buildings."

Hillsborough Township Public Schools serves approximately 7,700 students with six elementary (K-4) schools, one intermediate (5-6) school, one middle (7-8) school and one high (9-12) school. More information about the district is available at htps.us.