New Jersey Aiding Women and Minority Owned Businesses to Improve Indoor Air Quality

State Will Pay for Up to 75% of the Cost of Improving Indoor Air Quality for Qualifying Businesses 

As with many states across the country, New Jersey offers financial incentives to help meet the state’s clean energy goals. These include the NJ Clean Heat Program, Electric Vehicle Incentives and the NJ Clean Energy Program. 

The NJ Clean Energy program is particularly useful since it’s aimed at helping small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses, who may otherwise not have the financial resources or experience, become more energy efficient by significantly improving their indoor air quality. Unfortunately, many companies aren’t aware of the program or don’t know how to navigate through the application process. 

This is why working with a company like Vanguard Building Solutions and their Certified Energy Managers (CEM) is a critical step in the process. Our team (pictured) have helped clients in Princeton, Newark, and Fort Lee, receive the max threshold of 75% for complete replacement of aging, failing or obsolete HVAC systems of all types that serve these commercial buildings.  

Below we provide additional details on the NJ Clean Energy Program and show you how our incentive management program ensures you maximize the savings  you’re entitled to without dealing with complicated red tape. Our experts will walk you through the entire process. 

SEE MORE: 3 Energy Saving Solutions Every Building Should Consider 

The NJ Clean Energy Program 

The NJ Clean Energy program, run by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, was signed into law in August 2021. Its primary goal is to promote greater energy efficiency and reduce the state’s carbon footprint while helping small businesses thrive. 

It does this through two sub-programs: the School and Small Business Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Verification and Repair (SSB-VEEVR) Program and the School and Small Business Non-Compliant Plumbing Fixture and Appliance (SSB-NPFA) Program. The programs are aimed at improving both air quality and water efficiency.

There are still funds available for female-owned or minority-owned businesses. To qualify, your business needs to be certified by New Jersey as M/WBE, be independently owned and operated, employ less than 100 employees and have annual revenue of less than $12 million to qualify. In addition, we’re also able to help schools use this program for vital funding-particularly Charter schools which have a less stringent qualification process.

How Vanguard Can Help 

Understanding your facility’s needs and the handling of the application process correctly are key to securing the maximum available funding. These steps can be difficult for entrepreneurs to manage, so before you reach out to your local HVAC company with this program in mind, you need to speak with an energy expert like Vanguard Building Solutions. We simplify the entire process, so your only responsibility is signing program documents.

Vanguard offers a turn-key approach to project qualification. This includes the initial building audit, review of scope and budgets, design of a qualified solution with an accurate costing estimate, and the final submission to the state for approval.

In addition, the NJ Clean Energy program requires that businesses work with a certified energy manager to assess their indoor air quality. This involves testing the property’s air quality pre- and post-installation. Our team has three CEMs on staff to help with this aspect of the project.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of the NJ Clean Energy program, reach out as soon as possible, because all applications must pass through rigorous state approval before design and implementation can begin. Program funds are limited and provided on a first come, first served basis, so time is of the essence.

Call our team of experts today or fill out our contact form to get in touch. We will quickly determine if your business qualifies for the program and explain how you can take advantage of this exciting opportunity.