Patchogue Village on the brink of green

Some 10 weeks later, the Johnson Controls energy audit is almost complete. Village BID executive director Dennis Smith, spearheading the project on the village side, said he plans to have representatives from the company present their findings during the Feb. 8 board meeting via Zoom.

“Johnson Controls has conducted a complete energy audit,” he explained, referencing energy-forward suggestions such as solar panels, upgrading old air conditioning units and possibly converting from oil to natural gas. “It’s what they call a net-zero, dollar-neutral project,” he added, promising no cost to the taxpayer and eventually even a future cost savings.

The savings gained by the project, he explained, will be used to ultimately pay
off a loan taken out by the village to make necessary and inevitable upgrades as detailed above, as well as roof repair at the backend of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Currently, the audit is being finalized and bank options are being discussed for the potential loan, which will be paid by cost savings taken from the energy
upgrades such as solar panels and added energy efficiency. The village, in a typical year, pays close to $500,000 to PSEG.

Essentially, the loan, he said, would be like a 20-year escrow account.

“Really, it’s whatever works best for the village,” Smith added of the loan decision.

During the anticipated board meeting, a review will be made and ultimately a
decision on whether or not to move forward with the program.

“This is a direction the village is going in and it is a direction that has a lot of
future benefits to it,” added mayor Paul Pontieri. “We need to give credit where credit is due; I don’t believe we would have taken this very seriously if it hadn’t been for Joe Keyes and the PEP committee and, of course, Dennis, for all the hard work he put into this.”

So far, the village is leaning towards the project, but should they decide not to
move forward, the village owes Johnson $55,000 and gets to keep the report. If the project does go forward, that $55,000 would be included in the total cost, with Johnson performing all upgrades. The village signed the project development agreement in October.

Johnson Controls International is a global company that specializes in building service and energy solutions.