In July 2012, the New Jersey Clean Energy Program provided incentives to the state’s private and public K-12 schools for replacing T-12 fluorescent lights with new T-8 energy-efficient lighting. The incentives covered up to the entire cost of the upgrades, including materials, labor, permitting and disposal of the T-12 fixtures. A total of $6 million was allocated for this initiative, available to participants on a first-come, first-served basis. GreenTech Energy Services filed applications on behalf of many schools throughout the state. Among those that were accepted into the program were 16 schools from the Trenton Catholic Diocese.
At St. Catherine’s in Spring Lake, the difference between the old and new lights was “literally like night and day,” according to Rich Myer, the Parish’s Manager of Buildings and Grounds. “The old fixtures were unsightly, with cracked and yellowing lenses,” he says. “The new ones make everything look brighter. As one of the children put it, ‘I can see now!’ This is an upgrade that we’ve wanted to do for a long time, so the funding from the state was a real gift.”
The school’s principal, Sister Margo Kavanaugh, saw a similar reaction among the parents and teachers. “The first time people walked into the school after the project was completed, they asked what was going on here, because the whole place looked so much brighter and cleaner,” she says. “Our teachers go out of their way to create cheerful environments in their classrooms, and the new lighting has really enhanced their efforts.”
According to Donna Davidson, Associate Director of the Diocese’s Department of Catholic Schools, the project was also well received at Pope John Paul II in Willingboro. “The Principal was thrilled with the difference the new lighting was making,” she says, “and they loved the installation guys!!!” In fact, the students sent the installers on their way with handmade thank-you cards and a bagful of snacks. GreenTech is proudly displaying the card in its corporate offices and the installers are enjoying their Cheetos.