By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Aiming to clamp down on rising energy costs, township officials have applied to take part in an energy audit offered by the state Board of Public Utilities’ New Jersey Clean Energy Program.
If the township’s application is approved, several municipally-owned buildings — the three fire houses, the Lawrence Senior Center and the Department of Public Works — would be examined for energy efficiency, said Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun.
”The energy audit will help us identify ways to save money on what is being spent on energy consumption at these locations,” Mr. Krawczun said. “We are also planning to make some improvements and a minor expansion at the Senior Center, and the audit and recommendations could be coordinated as a part of that same work.”
The Municipal Building and the Municipal Court and Police Department building would be exempt from the study, Mr. Krawczun said. The Municipal Building was recently remodeled and the Municipal Court and Police Department building was built in 2001 — all with energy efficiency in mind, he said.
If Lawrence Township’s application is approved, a list of pre-selected energy auditing firms would be presented to the township, he said. The township would select a firm and conduct an energy audit. The report and its recommendations would be forwarded to the BPU.
Under the BPU program, the state would reimburse the township for 75 percent of the cost of the energy audit, Mr. Krawczun said. If the recommendations are implemented and the work exceeds 25 percent of the remaining cost of the audit, the township could be reimbursed for that 25 percent.
”This is simply about saving money,” Mr. Krawczun said.
Councilwoman Pam Mount said the proposed energy audit would be good for the environment and also save money in the long term. She said she was “thrilled” that Mr. Krawczun and the administration are moving ahead with the BPU application.
Ms. Mount said the energy auditors receive special training. The auditors could tell the township how much it would save if it implemented this recommendation or that recommendation, and offer a list of priorities, she said.
”It’s hard for town government,” Ms. Mount said. “Town government wants to be conscientious about spending money. With a tight, tight, tight budget, the town has to look at everything.”

