Customers who qualify are also eligible for a home energy audit. Specially trained “green” workers – some recently hired through PSEG’s partnership with a local non-profit agency – look for leaks around windows and doors, inspect attics for insulation and conduct blower door tests to assess how much energy might be going out the window. Depending on the results, customers may receive assistance with making seal-up improvements at little or no cost to them.

These energy-saving measures are part of a $46 million investment PSE&G is making to bring the benefits of conservation directly to families who can least afford the upfront cost. Begun earlier this year in Trenton and Newark, the program is steadily growing and will expand to assist qualifying customers in other urban centers. It will also help targeted small businesses, hospitals and commercial warehouses at New Jersey’s ports become more energy efficient,
especially in a difficult economy.

These initiatives are aimed directly at supporting New Jersey’s efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. Over its lifetime, the program hopes to save 458 gigawatthours of electricity and 7.6 dekatherms of natural gas. To illustrate the benefits, the impact on emissions would be the same as taking 180,000 passenger vehicles off the road for one year.

Any progress to address climate change is good. We all can and should do more to boost conservation among all segments of our population. The Board of Public Utilities is considering a companion proposal by PSE&G to expand the innovative efficiency program by $190 million so that more people can reap the savings and the state can further reduce its carbon footprint. A bonus in all this is the potential to create about 650 green utility and contractor jobs.

Greening our cities is the smart thing to do…for all of us.

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