NAESCO Project Finalist

🏆 NAESCO Project Finalist

Leading the Way in Sustainable Education

Jersey City Public Schools (JCPS), in collaboration with DCO Energy, has been recognized as a finalist for the prestigious National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) 2024 Member Award. This honor underscores the district’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community engagement through the implementation of New Jersey’s largest Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP).

Funding for this initiative was made possible through the American Rescue Plan, enabling JCPS to make long-term infrastructure investments without relying on taxpayer increases.

Project Overview

🏫 Scope: 44 schools and administrative buildings

💰 Total Project Value: $122 million

📆 Contract Term: 20 years

🚧 Construction Progress: Approximately 50% complete

🗓️ Award Date: February 16, 2023

Financial Strategy

💰 Financing:

  • $55.9 million in Green Refunding Bonds
  • $64.2 million in capital appropriations

🎁 Incentives: $1.73 million in rebates from PSE&G and NJ Clean Energy

📉 Projected Year 1 Savings: $2.5 million

📊Long-Term Savings: Over $88 million projected over 20 years

🛡️Taxpayer Impact: No upfront cost to JCPS

Educational Initiatives

🧪 Hands-on STEM/STEAM education for students

👩‍🔬 Encouraging female participation in STEM fields

🛠️ Providing job training and apprenticeships for local students and residents

🤝 Collaboration with minority- and women-owned businesses (MBE/WBE)

🌱Sustainability Achievements

JCPS’s ESIP project is transforming 44 schools into models of energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. Through upgrades like LED lighting, HVAC modernization, and smart building automation, we’re creating greener, healthier learning environments.

These improvements not only lower energy use but also support long-term savings and help meet New Jersey’s climate goals.

Measurable Impact

☀️ Rooftop Solar on 33 Schools
🌿 19.3M lbs of CO₂ Emissions Reduced
🔌 9.67M kWh of Electricity Saved
🔥 308,947 Therms of Natural Gas Saved
🛢️ 201,895 Gallons of Fuel Oil Saved
🏠 Improved Building Envelopes (windows, insulation, roofing)

🏅 Recognition & Impact

This project exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships in modernizing educational infrastructure while promoting sustainability and community development. The NAESCO finalist recognition highlights JCPS’s leadership in energy efficiency and serves as a model for school districts nationwide. JCPS’s bold investment stands as a model for communities across the country seeking to transform public infrastructure through energy-smart solutions.