Public institutions frequently face a frustrating paradox: the upgrades that would save them the most money are often the hardest to fund. Nobody cuts a ribbon on a new boiler or posts photos of a replaced rooftop HVAC unit. These invisible investments — the ones that keep buildings comfortable and help conserve energy — often get deprioritized when they compete with more visible projects, such as new buildings or additions.
This had been the case at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), where critical infrastructure upgrades had been delayed for years. That changed when the college discovered our Engineered Solutions Program, which helped make more than $6 million in long-overdue mechanical upgrades financially feasible.
The invisible infrastructure problem
“People don’t readily see the impact of mechanical infrastructure projects,” explains Brian O’Rourke, RVCC executive director of facilities and grounds. “So, it’s hard to get funding, especially when what you need is a large piece of equipment with an equally large price tag. That need just keeps getting pushed back.”
For RVCC, the big-ticket item was the science building’s massive rooftop HVAC unit, a system the size of a small house that had been failing for nearly a decade, sometimes requiring staff to reset it three or four times on cold winter days.
“We have been talking about replacing this unit for eight or nine years,” Brian says. But instead of replacement, budget constraints repeatedly forced RVCC to resort to short-term fixes that kept the unit limping along.
How was RVCC able to fund years of deferred infrastructure upgrades?
Through our Engineered Solutions program, RVCC was able to complete a $6.1 million project with nearly 50% of the costs covered through incentives. The remaining balance will be repaid through a zero-interest, five-year on-bill repayment plan.
“For a community college, that’s a huge incentive,” Brian shares. Without it, the science building HVAC replacement, estimated at nearly $900,000, would have likely remained on hold.
What impact will the upgrades have on campus operations?
The project began with approximately $500,000 in LED lighting upgrades. We then worked with RVCC to identify additional opportunities to improve efficiency across the campus.
The broader project includes transformer replacements, new air handling units, hot water pump and boiler upgrades, and chilled water pump installations at various buildings across the campus. The project brought together multiple local contractors to implement these improvements, including electrical and mechanical work performed entirely by union labor. When completed, the project is expected to significantly reduce energy use, generating approximately $510,000 in annual energy cost savings, or an estimated $7.65 million over the project’s lifetime.i
Improvements in efficiency will be significant. For example, existing boilers operate at roughly 80% efficiency; the new condensing boilers will operate at 98%. These three new modular units will allow the college to run just one boiler during mild seasons, rather than firing full capacity for minimal demand.
Overall, the new science building HVAC unit is expected to deliver the most dramatic results once completely installed.
Originally designed for chemistry labs requiring 100% fresh outside air, the old unit kept running that way even after labs relocated to another building, conditioning outside air for a space that no longer needed it. Converting it to a recirculation system will help slash energy consumption.
“That unit alone will help pay for a lot of the other energy initiatives,” Brian notes.
But the benefits go beyond projected energy savings. For years, science building occupants dealt with unreliable temperatures and recurring system failures caused by aging equipment. When crews needed the building to be vacated for three weeks, employees didn’t push back. They were willing to be temporarily inconvenienced if it meant creating a more comfortable and reliable environment in the future.
RVCC anticipates that most upgrades will be completed by the end of this summer, with all systems operational before the fall semester.
Why did RVCC choose our Engineered Solutions Program?
For RVCC, the program provided a practical path to complete long-delayed infrastructure upgrades without requiring significant upfront capital. Incentives and flexible repayment options helped make the project achievable.
One of the biggest advantages of the program, according to Brian, is its accessibility. Similar energy efficiency initiatives frequently come with heavy administrative burdens: complex paperwork, ongoing reporting and staffing requirements that can deter participation. For lean facilities teams like those at RVCC, that can be a dealbreaker.
“This is an easy program to work with,” he says. “Especially compared to past initiatives RVCC pursued that required extensive documentation and follow-up.”
Brian also says that the contractors implementing the upgrades have moved quickly, and coordination with our teams has remained consistent throughout the project.
Turning deferred maintenance into long-term savings
For institutions trying to extend the life of aging infrastructure with patchwork solutions, RVCC’s experience demonstrates that long-planned upgrades don’t have to remain on hold indefinitely. With the right combination of incentives, financing and energy-saving opportunities, organizations can move critical projects forward while positioning themselves for long-term savings.
To learn more about how your organization can benefit from our energy efficiency programs, visit mybizenergy.pseg.com and explore available incentives, financing options and energy-saving opportunities.
i. Savings are based on current program estimates. Actual savings may vary based on operations, energy prices, weather, equipment performance and other factors.
