On April 26, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) and Ben Porat Yosef held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school to celebrate a successful project, having completed nearly $300,000 in energy efficiency improvements as part of the PSE&G Direct Install Program. The energy efficiency improvements at Ben Porat Yosef included the installation of high efficiency lighting both inside the school and in outside entrances, parking lots and play areas. The school’s air conditioning and heating systems were also upgraded with new high efficiency equipment.

These improvements will save more than 225,000-kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which is equivalent to the usage of more than 30 average size homes. The school will also save almost 14,000 therms of natural gas annually, which is equal to the yearly use of 14 typical New Jersey homes. PSE&G also expects that Ben Porat Yosef will save nearly $48,000 annually in energy costs.

This program, and working with PSE&G, has had an enormously positive impact on the school, enhancing safety for visitors during after-hours events and programs, reducing repair service calls for the original school heating and air-conditioning system and improving lighting in the classrooms. It has allowed the school to become more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, while saving money.

Pictured in the photo, left to right, are: Joe Prusik, Energy Efficiency Program Manager, PSE&G; Cheryl Rosenberg, President, Ben Porat Yosef; Valerie Huttle, Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle; Senator Robert Gordon; Susanna Chiu, Director of Energy Efficiency Programs, PSE&G; Asher Toporovsky, Treasurer, Ben Porat Yosef.