BACK TO NEWS
HOWELL, NJ — The increasingly sunny days that are warming the weather will bring an additional benefit to one Howell Township school: air conditioning, powered by solar energy.
Air conditioning is now working at Ardena Elementary School, as of April 15, Tri-Town News reported.
The district held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 19 on the solar energy project that is part of an Energy Savings Improvement Program that is bringing a number upgrades to the schools. Through an ESIP, public entities can make improvements that result in an energy savings, and the cost savings is used to pay for the project. ESIPs are reviewed by the state Board of Public Utilities, which must sign off on the projected cost savings of the improvements.
In a letter to the community, Superintendent Joseph Isola said the ESIP was initially approved in January 2017 and DCO Energy hired as the district’s partner Energy Services Company (ESCO) to design, develop, and implement the district ESIP project.
The solar project is a piece of that, and will allow the district to air condition eight schools that currently do not have air conditioning, Isola said.
“Flipping the switch on solar energy within the district, made possible through the Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP)! Through this project, we will reduce our carbon footprint by 3,821 tons of carbon dioxide! This work will also lead to climate controlled learning environments for students and staff!” the district said in a Facebook post announcing the ribbon-cutting.
The solar project, which Isola’s letter described as “extensive,” was “a major driver of the (ESIP) program … creating the opportunity for minimal electricity cost solution for the Howell Public Schools.”
Other elements of the ESIP include:
- New LED lighting (which uses far less electricity)
- New, district-wide energy management system
- Boiler and chiller replacements at Middle School North & South
- Building weatherproofing improvements
- Classroom unit ventilator replacements
The remainder of the district’s schools are expected to have air conditioning by September, the Tri-Town News report said.
Article Source: https://patch.com/new-jersey/howell/solar-panels-esip-bringing-air-conditioning-howell-schools