As you might have read in some of our latest posts, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) announced a $180 million grant program in October 2021. Officially called the Schools and Small Business Energy Efficiency Stimulus (SSB), this program offers incentives for HVAC, plumbing and appliance upgrades. The available funds are split into:
- A $135 million program for HVAC assessments, maintenance and upgrades
- A $45 million fund to upgrade non-compliant plumbing upgrades and appliances.
In both cases, 75% of the funds are for challenged communities and 25% for other locations. Here we will discuss the School and Small Business Noncompliant Plumbing Fixture and Appliance Program (SSB-NPFA), explaining which upgrades are eligible and how the $45 million budget is divided.
Upgrade your plumbing fixtures and appliances, and save water and energy.
What is the Budget of the NJ Plumbing Fixture and Appliance Program?
As mentioned above, the SSB-NPFA program has a total budget of $45. These funds are split among schools and businesses in New Jersey, inside and outside of challenged communities, according to the following table:
|
Type of Applicant |
Underserved Communities |
Not in Underserved Community |
|
School |
$25,312,500 |
$8,437,500 |
|
Small Business |
$8,437,500 |
$2,812,500 |
As you will notice, there is a 75-25% split between schools and small businesses, and also a 75-25% split between underserved communities and other locations. Applicants can also obtain grants from the HVAC program, but there is a total limit of $5 million per school district and $500,000 for small businesses.
The total incentive amount is also limited to 75% of the approved project costs. However, schools and small businesses can also apply for other incentives from NJ Clean Energy or their respective utility companies, reaching 100% of project costs.
Which Plumbing Upgrades Qualify for Incentives?
Since water conservation is one of the main goals of the SSB-NFPA, the program focuses on plumbing fixtures that don’t meet water efficiency standards. According to the program guide published by the NJBPU and NJ Clean Energy, funds can be used to upgrade plumbing fixtures that meet the following conditions:
- Toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons per flush.
- Urinals that use more than one gallon per flush.
- Showerheads that use more than 2.5 gallons per minute.
- Interior faucets that use more than 2.2 gallons per minute.
The application must include the following information for each plumbing fixture being upgraded: type of unit, quantity, model number, serial number and water usage - for both the existing units and their replacements. You must also provide the replacement cost, old equipment disposal cost, and labor cost.
Which Appliance Upgrades Qualify for Incentives?
The SSB-NFPA program guide also lists the appliances that qualify for financial incentives:
- Commercial dishwashers
- Automatic commercial ice makers
- Commercial clothes washers
In all three cases, the incentive applies for units that are noncompliant with their respective ENERGY STAR product specifications, and manufactured before January 1, 2010. The application must include the type of unit, quantity, model number, serial number and ENERGY STAR rating - for existing units and their upgrades. You must also include replacement, disposal and labor costs.
The product specifications that apply in each case are the following:
- ENERGY STAR Product Specification for Commercial Dishwashers, Version 1.1
- ENERGY STAR Product Specification for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers, Version 1.0
- ENERGY STAR Product Specification for Clothes Washers, Version 5.0
Conclusion
The SSB-NFPA provides an excellent opportunity to save water in schools and small businesses, by getting 75% funding on plumbing and appliance upgrades. Incentives are available by plumbing fixtures that don’t meet water efficiency standards, and specific appliances manufactured before 2010 that are noncompliant with ENERGY STAR.
By combining incentives from this program and the HVAC program (SSB-VEEVR), schools and small businesses in NJ can greatly reduce their water and energy usage. The HVAC program also has the goal of improving indoor air quality, making building interiors healthier. This includes measures that prevent infectious diseases like COVID-19, such as MERV 13 filters and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.
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