The completion of an energy audit would leave Cranford with a list of recommended, cost-effective energy efficiency measures and facility upgrades that could help reduce operating expenses.

“Our plan at this time is to have as many buildings audited as possible,” said Deputy Mayor Mark Smith, citing the municipal building, fire house, roundhouse, recreation center/library, and the indoor swimming facility, all as possible candidates for the audit.

An energy audit, which is part of the Board of Public Utilities' Clean Energy Program, targets buildings owned by local governments of New Jersey, state colleges and universities.

Participants in the program would select from a list of pre-qualified auditing firms who would follow the parameters of state’s Clean Energy Program and deliver an investment grade audit. BPU’s program would subsidize 75 percent of the cost of the audit.

However, if the net cost of the installed measures recommended by the Energy Audit exceeds the remaining cost of the audit, then an additional 25 percent of the audit’s cost would be subsidized by the BPU’s program.  In essence, it’s possible for the BPU to subsidize the entire cost of the audit; making it free for Cranford to conduct.

Although BPU may pay up to 100 percent of an audit’s cost, it will only pay for one audit for one building.

Once the energy audit’s recommendations are made, it is up to the township to fund the improvements.

“There are many incentives available for implementation,” said Paul VanGelder, vice president and regional director for CHA Inc.; one of the pre-qualified auditing firms. “They include stimulus money and permanent BPU programs such as the smart start building program, and the pay for performance program, to name a few.”

Smith said using grants would be the township’s first choice to fund the improvements.

However, “with the significant savings in energy costs the payback period in terms of savings versus outlay would also make bonding for the improvements possible,” he explained.

The energy audit’s improvements could target such things as energy efficient lighting, window insulation, HVAC upgrades, among other items.

“It’s the township’s mindset to complete the improvements with the biggest payback,” said Nelson Dittmar, chair of the Cranford Environmental Commission.

Dittmar noted that in the past Cranford improved the lighting system in the municipal building and the cost to do so was recovered in energy cost savings in about one year.

The completion of an energy audit would take 60 days from notice by Cranford to proceed.

VanGelder said the cost of an energy audit can range anywhere from $0.15 to $2.00 per square foot. “Depends on the size, age and complexity of the building systems in place,” he said. 

If the Township Committee wanted to target the municipal building for the audit, Dittmar explained as an example, the audit would almost certainly recommend improvements to the heating system.

“We hope an audit of all the buildings is completed but that decision will be left up to the township committee,” said Dittmar.