While the NFL Films’ building in Mount Laurel, N.J., isn’t LEED certified, it is now more energy efficient than it once was. The building recently completed an energy-efficiency upgrade, and the results of the project have earned NFL Films a $69,300 commission check from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) SmartStart Buildings Program.

Barry Wolper, vice president of NFL Films, explained the reasoning behind their decision to seek out more efficient cooling equipment by saying "NFL Films is the world's largest sports film library, containing more than 100 million feet of NFL archival footage. While the collection amounts to millions of dollars worth of film, the memories associated with these legendary games and plays are priceless. So preserving them remains our top priority.” Source: New Jersey Clean Energy Program (PDF)

While the impetus for change was protecting the archives after an HVAC system failure in 2007, the upgrades will lead to a reduction of 790 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

The New Jersey Clean Energy Program began in 2001. In the eight years since its inception, more than $1 billion has been invested in energy efficient projects in the state. The upgrades made through these projects have saved an estimated 22 million megawatt-hours of electricity.

In addition to financial incentives for energy-efficiency upgrades, the New Jersey Clean Energy Program also provides green jobs training to residents of the state. The program offers energy efficiency training, including a building analyst certification program, and renewable energy training.

Energy efficiency training opportunities

BPI – Building Analyst I – Pedricktown, 9/8– 9/11/09, for more information call (856) 981-2973

Build Analyst Training (BPI) – Ocean County – 9/21-10/02/09, for more information visit: http://www.ocean.edu/cpe.htm

Building Analyst (BPI) – Brookdale – 10/5-10/16/09, for more information call (732) 224-2315

Building Analyst Certification – Burlington – 10/19-10/30/09, for more information call (609) 877-4520

Renewable energy training opportunities

Renewable Energy Incentive Program (REIP) – 12/9/09, for more information email cynthia.surman@csgrp.com

Renewable Energy 101 – 12/9/09, for more information email cynthia.surman@csgrp.com

Although the NFL Films building isn’t LEED certified, the energy-efficiency upgrades will lead to measurable differences in the building’s energy use. One of the downsides of LEED certification is that people may assume that a LEED certified building equals energy efficient. This is not the case and the USGBC has included mandated performance data as part of its criteria for ongoing certification under LEED v3.

Programs like those run by the New Jersey Clean Energy Program have the opportunity to make a significant impact on a region’s greenhouse gas emissions. Commercial buildings are responsible for a significant amount of the world’s energy use. By taking efforts to make commercial buildings more energy efficient, business owners can reduce their overall energy use, reduce their carbon footprint, and ultimately save money on energy bills.