Sustainable Lawrence’s Secretary, Jori Fahrenfeld, learned some great news about PSEG’s latest program updates. Her account follows:
For years, PSEG has offered programs aimed at making businesses’ energy usage more efficient.
They have recently made significant changes in the PSEG Energy Program. For instance:
**Previous programs tied lighting changes to whether a business qualified to have mechanical changes made. These program improvements now allow work on HVAC, boilers and chillers and this work is not dependent on lighting changes.
**A welcome change is that they are now providing financing at zero percent over 5 years instead of 3 years.
**And another positive change is that small businesses are now eligible for the program.
PSEG teams up with engineering companies to facilitate these programs and our local contact is Ed Andricola from Tri-State Light & Energy [TSLE], a lighting and engineering company. Tri-State covers the program in Mercer, Essex and Union counties.
What are the Benefits to the Business Owner?
**PSEG will pay for up to 80% of the project cost;
**This new efficient equipment can drastically reduce maintenance costs and lower utility bills;
**Ultimately, it will increase your facility’s value;
** And TSLE will take care of everything from permits to recycling removed materials.
Contact Ed at 856-723-3670 with any questions about the program or if you would like
additional information; can also email him at ed.andricola@TSLE.com
For More Project Details, See Below:
**The engineering company (TSLE) will perform a no obligation energy audit and then make their recommendations;
**The business owner can then review and approve the recommended efficiency upgrades for lighting, HVAC [heating, ventilation and air conditioning], boilers, and commercial walk-in refrigeration;
**PSEG will cover 100% of the project costs up front (materials + installation);
**They will then deduct your program incentive and will bill the balance over five years, on-bill, interest-free, in monthly installments;
In addition to working with TSLE, you can visit the PSEG website and access their booklet entitled, “PSEG Business Energy Saver Program Measures,” which has very detailed information on all aspects of the available programs, such as:
Lighting : New and Retrofit
There are requirements for the appropriate designations for new lighting fixtures and retrofit kits, including Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Electrical Testing Laboratory (ETL) labels. They must be installed in accordance with best practices such as the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook.There are eligible fixtures for interior and exterior installations with the fixture type, physical size, wattage(s) and lumens. Also included are lighting controls.
HVAC: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning
Replacement HVAC equipment needs to meet energy efficiency require units and the manufacturer’s specifications sheet. The spec sheet should be provided by the contractor and can also be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
The equipment ranges from rooftop equipment that can be serving/conditioning an entire building to smart thermostats. Gas furnaces, heat pumps, unit heaters, hot water condensing boilers, steam (condensing or non-condensing) boilers, components for hot water systems, etc.
Food Service
Components for supermarket refrigeration: door gaskets, automatic door closers, strip curtains to installing refrigeration display case doors on open refrigeration units. Also cooking equipment: ovens, fryers, steamers and griddles. Also commercial dishwashers: undercounter (gas or electric), door type (gas or electric) or single or multiple tank conveyor (gas or electric).
Refrigerators and freezers including commercial glass door or solid door refrigerator and commercial glass door or solid door freezers. And commercial ice machines of various sizes from small (0 to 100 lbs/day) to large (1001 to 1500 lbs.day).
Agriculture
Various UL listed equipment includes: engine block heater timer, auto milker takeoff, dairy scroll compressor, heat reclaimers, livestock waterer, low pressure irrigation and dairy refrigeration tune-up.
Plug loads
Plug loads refer to energy used by equipment that is plugged into an electrical outlet. Plug load discussion: Most common modes are active, standby, and off. Active mode powers equipment as it is being operated and is the most energy intensive. Standby mode leaves equipment on but powered-down either automatically when the equipment has been idle for a specified time, or manually placed in standby by the user. Electronic devices will return to active mode when a user engages the equipment. Off mode either does not draw any power or draws very little power because it has been manually
turned off or unplugged by the user. Many electronic devices never completely turn off in order to start quickly when the user activates the device. We tend to think that equipment that is plugged in but not being used is not consuming. This program can install advanced power strips or small network PC controllers.
Vending Machine & Control
Controls available for refrigerated and non-refrigerated vending machines, glass-front refrigerated cooler controls and beverage vending machines.
Residential Appliances in Commercial Settings
Various incentives are available for clothes washers, clothes dryers, refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, room air conditioners and water coolers.
Custom
There are additional custom gas/electric incentives for:
HVAC/Chillers, HVAC/VRF (variable refrigerant flow), HVAC Controls & Chiller Plant Optimization, Compressed Air Systems, Refrigeration Data Center, Equipment/Servers Motors/VFD (variable frequency drive) – Large Building Improvements, Process Improvements, Agricultural Lighting/Process, Custom Lighting, Other Non-Prescriptive Items.