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Hazlet schools recognized for energy savings; consultant reports $2.2 million cost avoidance
Summary
Consultant Cnergistic told the Hazlet Board of Education the district has cut energy use by more than 30% since 2017, producing an estimated $2.2 million in cost avoidance and Energy Star recognition for seven buildings.
The Hazlet Township Public School District on Monday accepted an update from energy consultants showing sustained reductions in utility use and awards for several school buildings.
Cnergistic, the district's energy partner, told the board it began working with the district in 2017 and has tracked utility and efficiency gains since then. Scott, a Cnergistic representative, said electricity rates have risen about 40%, natural gas about 33% and water about 45% since the program began, but the district has limited its overall utility spending to roughly a 2.5% increase across that time.
The Energy Star recognition cited seven certified buildings and the district's overall reductions. "Since the beginning of the program, we've been able to cut our energy by, over 30% ... which has come out to 2,200,000 in cost avoidance since the beginning," Scott said. He also reported a reduction of about 8,770 metric tons of CO2, which the consultants said is roughly equivalent to planting 145,000 trees over 10 years.
Anthony Ricardo, introduced at the meeting as the district's energy specialist, joined Cnergistic presenters in summarizing the partnership's work and recommending continued benchmarking and conservation measures. The presentation included a summary of Cnergistic's audits — the presenters said more than 3,600 building audits have been completed — and explained that Energy Star certification requires performance in the top 25 percent nationally.
Cnergistic named the buildings that received recognition: Rowan High School, Hazlet Middle School, Lillian Drive Elementary, Middle Road Elementary, Rowan Valley Elementary, Curry Road Elementary and Beale Street Elementary School. Presenters noted early childhood centers are not yet benchmarked nationwide for Energy Star but said the Environmental Protection Agency is moving to add that category.
The board accepted the update; no formal vote or policy action tied directly to the presentation was recorded in the transcript. District staff and principals were invited to receive certificates during the meeting.
The district's energy specialist and Cnergistic recommended continued monitoring and implementation of identified efficiency measures to maintain savings as utility rates change.
