‘Green Team’ Formed as Avalon Prepares for Energy Audit

AVALON — Borough Council discussed creating an Alternative Energy Resource Committee or “Green Team” at its meeting March 11 for the purpose of gaining grants for environmental efficiency through the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
Soon borough buildings, including the fire and police departments, Borough Hall, Senior Center, Community Hall and a few at the marina, will be audited to find how much energy they use and where they could be more efficient.
In a plan of work similar to a revaluation, these public borough-owned buildings will be inspected and energy usage over the past two years will be charted.
Changes made to buildings to become more efficient, like replacing standard light bulbs with compact ones, earn points towards a 100-point requirement to be a certified municipality in the state program.
Business Administrator Andrew Bednarek said the borough wants to go for the “low hanging fruit” and gain points for some of what it’s already doing to save energy, like the recent HVAC replacements in Borough Hall for which the borough is eligible for a $3,000 Smart Start grant through a Clean Energy Program.
Tax Assessor Jeffrey Hesley, a member of the proposed “Green Team,” said since the audit is meter-based, and the former police station has been demolished to make way for the new Public Safety Complex, the borough cannot chart a building that no longer exist.
“Historical data on the building isn’t there anymore. If we want to know where we are going, we’ve got to know where we’ve been. This audit is a lot of work, but it’s worth it financially and letting everyone know we’re conscientious about energy usage,” Hesley said.
Auditors will go out to bid through BPU. Avalon can be reimbursed up to 100 percent of the cost of the program.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com