def #55 03/12/08

ENERGY MASTER PLAN TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

TOMS RIVER – With more than 100 buildings to maintain, Ocean County government is continuing its efforts to make certain its facilities are energy efficient.

With that premise, the Board of Chosen Freeholders will embark on a Sustainable Energy Master Plan which will provide the framework for the county to understand its current energy usage and costs and suggest a number of possible strategies that will allow for better energy conservation.

“Undertaking this plan is the next logical step in making certain Ocean County government is a leader in energy efficiencies,” said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. “This builds upon a more recent study that looked at the energy needs of a handful of county facilities.”

The Board of Freeholders is expected to approve a resolution at its March 19 meeting authorizing PMK Group, to conduct the study at a cost of $142,000.

“The Energy Master Plan will assist the county in achieving the highest environmental performance possible at the least possible cost,” said William A. Santos, superintendent of Ocean County’s Department of Buildings and Grounds. “It will help to identify county buildings where the greatest improvements can be made to reduce energy consumption and the county’s carbon footprint.

“In short, the Energy Master Plan will help to accelerate energy efficiency activities throughout Ocean County,” he said.

Vicari, who serves as liaison to Buildings and Grounds, noted the county, last year, completed an energy audit and analysis of five county facilities – the justice complex downtown, the public health center, the agriculture center, juvenile and domestic court and the Toms River garage.

“As a result of that audit we are reviewing changes to the lighting, boilers, air conditioning, mechanical and electrical systems in order to reduce the county’s overall energy costs in these buildings,” Vicari said. “We are already seeing a savings through the use of hybrid vehicles.

“We are also looking at the ways we procure natural gas and electricity to make certain we are getting the best prices possible,” Vicari said.

The Energy Master Plan will include five critical elements:

“With the institution of a comprehensive energy efficiency program, not only will higher energy efficiency equipment use less energy and save the county money, but will ultimately result in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” Vicari said.

The master plan also will identify various renewable energy technologies that may be available to the county including solar, solar thermal, geothermal and wind.

“As part of the plan, we will look at these alternate energy technologies and determine whether some may be viable sources that could be implemented at various county facilities,” Vicari said. “The plan will also provide us with information on the financial options that may be available to the county for implementing these alternatives.”

Santos noted the county is already taking numerous steps to become more energy efficient.

“As we replace old lighting in our buildings we are using new energy efficient lighting,” he said. “Old exit signs are now being replaced with new (LED) Light Emitting Diode signs, which will save $377 each over the course of the lifetime of the new sign.”

All new county buildings are being designed to meet the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria.

The county already participates in the New Jersey’s Clean Energy Programs including the New Jersey SmartStart Buildings program, which is administered by the Board of Public Utilities’ Office of Clean Energy.

The SmartStart Buildings program is an effort to save energy in buildings by providing technical assistance to applicants to specify and install selected energy efficient equipment.

“The Board of Freeholders has made a commitment to continue to look at alternative energy sources for its own facilities in addition to educating and raising the public’s awareness so we can all “Go Green” in the very near future,” Vicari said.

The master plan is expected to be completed in about six months.


to the Ocean County News Page