Projects paying off

State university
   

The breakdown.

Rebate on project cost
$390,738
Expected energy use change
-2,605,105 kWh electricity/year
-7,943 DTherms natural gas/year
Change in energy costs
almost -$300,000/year
Rowan University is a growing state university in Gloucester County, New Jersey that had aging boilers and a need for air conditioning and lighting upgrades. The university proceeded with an energy efficiency project that included an efficient central steam system; a chilled water plant along with variable frequency drives (VFDs) and efficient motors; energy-saving HVAC equipment for the common area in new student town homes; and energy savings in the newly constructed College of Education building from high-efficiency lighting, VFDs and efficient motors.

Rowan University received a rebate of $390,738 from the New Jersey SmartStart Buildings Program to help offset the costs of upgraded energy-efficient equipment. The combined measures are expected to save 2,605,105 kWh of electricity and 7,943 DTherms of natural gas each year, reducing the University's energy costs by almost $300,000 per year.

Jewish Community Center
   

The bottom line.

Cash incentives
$87,900
Payback period
little over two years
Expected energy use change
-256,000 kWh electricity/year
-10,700 Therms natural gas/year
Change in energy costs
-$32,000/year
An energy study that evaluated a number of energy-efficiency options was prepared for this Atlantic County, New Jersey center in 2002. In 2004, the center installed a number of recommended measures that included:

Annual energy savings attributed to the high-efficiency design are estimated to be 256,000 kWh and 10,700 Therms of natural gas, which will reduce the Center’s energy bills by over $32,000 per year. With the $87,900 in incentives the Center received from New Jersey SmartStart Buildings, the project should pay for itself in a little over two years, while the annual energy savings continue.