Saving the planet and putting money in your pocket is the motto behind the Tri-County Sustainable Alliance Energy Efficiency Summit on Jan. 22.
According to the Tri-County Sustainable Alliance website, the organization comprises a group of sustainability enthusiasts in the Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties who want to improve their communities and connect regionally.
TriCSA is a Sustainable Jersey hub designed to help coordinate municipalities in South Jersey. It provides local Green Teams with support getting started and specific actions to take, as well as providing programs to educate residents about sustainability issues.
“We decided to do the energy efficiency summit because another county, Atlantic County, held a similar event, which turned out to be pretty successful,” said Patrick McDevitt, chair of the Monroe Green Team.
“There are a lot of things that people don’t know about energy efficiency,” he continued. “This summit is something everyone can take advantage of and learn how to make an impact in reducing emissions and their carbon footprint in their own home, township and state.”
The event will offer residents the chance to gain information on energy efficiency, such as lowering gas and electric utility bills; New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program; incentives to become more efficient; and how things as simple as insulation can impact energy efficiency.
One of the main things that attendees will learn is how to identify where energy is being wasted in their business or home. According to McDevitt, when residents change a heater, air conditioner or water heater at the end of its life span, they typically replace it with the same item, not an ideal practice.
“At the end of these systems’ life span, people typically replace it with the same thing,” he explained, “but studies have shown, based on the measurement of the house, that these systems are actually too much for the house and can be replaced with a smaller more efficient one.”
Residents, business owners and municipal officials are encouraged to attend the summit. The free event will be held between 6 to 8 p.m. at the Haddonfield Borough Hall, 242 Kings Highway East. Registration is required; to do so, go to bit.ly/TCSAEnergySummit
The summit agenda will consist of networking and registration from 6 to 6:30 p.m.; a panel entitled, A Community Approach to Reducing Your Carbon Footprint, at 6:45 p.m.; and a Q&A at 7:45 p.m.
For more information, contact the Tri-County Sustainability Alliance at (609) 771-3129 or by emailing hubs@sustainablejersey.com.
