Rahway Public Schools serve more than 4,300 students across seven schools, several in buildings that have been part of the community for generations. But keeping older school buildings comfortable and reliable can become more challenging as heating and cooling equipment ages and replacement parts become harder to find.
To help address that challenge, the district turned to our Direct Install Program. By partnering with us, energy efficiency upgrades at four Rahway elementary schools are replacing aging equipment, improving reliability and helping the district manage energy use and costs—while keeping the buildings available to the students, families and community groups that rely on them every day.
Why did Rahway’s schools need an upgrade?
One of the district’s strategic goals for 2025–2030 is investing in facility upgrades to create spaces where students have the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Several of Rahway’s schools have long histories. Franklin Elementary dates back to 1921, with additions in 1954 and 2000. Grover Cleveland was built in 1928 and expanded in 1972 and 2010. Madison Elementary opened in 1950 and was expanded in 2000.
Older buildings mean older systems, which can translate into issues with maintenance and reliability.
For Tom Giglio, Rahway’s manager of buildings and grounds, maintaining aging equipment has become increasingly challenging.
“Manufacturers stop making parts after about 10 years, leaving you stuck,” Tom said. “You can’t get parts for something that’s 20, 30, 40 years old, so you’re improvising fixes on the fly.”
And because these schools serve the community well beyond classroom hours, reliability matters. Students in marching band, theater and sports keep the buildings busy into the evening, while local youth groups and town organizations also use the facilities for programs and events.
When a school loses heat in the middle of winter, the impact can extend to students, families, after-school activities and community programs.
How is PSE&G helping Rahway upgrade its schools?
In December 2024, the district began a comprehensive round of energy efficiency upgrades through our Direct Install Program across four elementary schools: Franklin, Grover Cleveland, Madison and Roosevelt.
The work includes a mix of new boilers, electric HVAC systems, smart thermostats and other upgrades tailored to each building’s specific needs.
The district expects the work to be completed during fall 2026, with final start-up, calibration and commissioning scheduled as cooler weather permits.
How is Rahway managing the cost of the upgrades?
The project’s total cost to the district is approximately $3.1 million, with PSE&G covering more than 65% of the investment and Rahway responsible for the remaining balance through our on-bill repayment option.
The interest-free repayment means Rahway doesn’t have to cover its remaining share of the project costs all at once. Instead, the district can repay eligible costs over five years at 0% interest, spreading the budget impact over time while still getting critical work done now, when it’s needed most.
It also gives the district the ability to tackle multiple buildings at once instead of addressing one school at a time as funds allow.
How much energy could the upgrades save?
The upgrades are estimated to reduce annual electricity and gas use by approximately 49,000 kilowatt-hours and 60,000 therms, with projected savings of roughly $66,000 per year.
For Tom, the real value of participating in our energy efficiency program goes beyond the spreadsheet. It’s about reliability.
A failed boiler in the middle of winter can mean sending students home from school, disrupting the required 180-day academic calendar and creating real hardship for families. With new, serviceable equipment backed by available replacement parts, that risk drops dramatically.
The changes have already been noticeable.
It used to be 180 degrees in the boiler rooms. The old units would just radiate massive heat that you could feel two doors down in the hallway. Now, they’re so efficient they keep the heat inside the unit itself.”
– Tom Giglio, Manager of Buildings and Grounds, Rahway Public Schools
Tom also praised how the work was carried out with minimal disruption to students and staff. The installation contractor worked around the school calendar, communicating about scheduling and addressing issues as they arose—including swapping out a manufacturer’s electronic component for a more reliable mechanical alternative when it wasn’t performing as expected.
The schools didn’t miss a single day of heating during the work.
What does the project mean for the Rahway community?
“Rahway is a charming city with a historical hometown feel, where everyone works together like family and has each other’s backs,” Tom said.
For a community that depends on its schools well beyond the school day, the upgrades are about more than replacing aging equipment. They’re a practical, cost-conscious investment in keeping these buildings comfortable and reliable for the students, staff, families and residents who use them every day.
Could energy efficiency upgrades help your organization?
Learn how our energy efficiency programs are helping organizations in communities like Montclair and Lawrenceville reduce energy use and improve comfort—and visit mybizenergy.pseg.com to explore available programs, incentives, repayment options and energy-saving opportunities for your organization.