MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
NEWS RELEASE

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Wayne Woolley at 609-530-6942/cell 732-804-6782

      The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs cut nearly $2 million in energy costs so far this fiscal year by adopting stringent conservation measures, reducing the department's electric and natural gas consumption by nearly a third and slashing its use of fuel oil in half, Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, the adjutant general, told the Senate Budget Committee this week.

 

      At the same time, DMAVA secured nearly $3 million in federal stimulus money for improvements at armories to include energy conservation and generated nearly $200,000 from the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Credits from panels installed at the department's Battle Lab on Fort Dix. Those panels, combined with three additional solar projects due to come on line by the end of the year have the potential to generate more than a half million dollars a year.

 

      Rieth told the budget committee members that the energy savings came about largely through conservation at the 125 DMAVA buildings, from armories to field maintenance shops to the headquarters building in Lawrenceville.

 

      “We've tried to change the culture to encourage employees to manage government buildings in the same way they manage their own homes,” he said. “You don't leave your house with the heat turned up or the lights on. We practice these same common-sense principals in our buildings.”

 

      The energy savings came during a particularly harsh winter.

 

      “I will say there was a run on sweaters, turtlenecks and the gloves with the fingers cut off in our headquarters building,” Rieth said. “Ultimately, our employees understand that savings on energy means more money that can be spend on training Soldiers and helping veterans.”

 

      The Department's efforts are achieving objectives set by Gov. Jon Corzine to ensure that state government uses energy more efficiently and generates its own when possible.

 

      DMAVA also continued with other cost-savings measures began in previous years.

 

      Since 2001, the Department has reduced its central office by payroll by $97 million, a 22 percent decline and eliminated seven of 16 Commissioner or Director titles, with an average salary of $93,000.

 

      DMAVA also cut its vehicle fleet, slashing the total number of vehicles from 109 to 76 over the past seven years and reducing the number of assigned vehicles from 72 to 30. The department also cut up all 38 of its commercial fuel cards.

 

      Finally, the department also realized savings on the telecommunications front, giving up a dozen cell phones and five BlackBerrys for $10,000 in saving. An equal amount in additional savings came by consolidating toll free numbers and converting to a different carrier.

 

      “Extraordinary” was the word Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), the chairwoman of the budget committee, used to describe the cost-cutting measures.

 

      “I've always been impressed by your frugal no-nonsense approach to the budget,” she told Rieth. “But in these times, they take on added significance.”

 

      Sen. Steve Oroho (R-Morris) told Rieth that DMAVA's cost-savings efforts will help ensure that it is able to fulfill responsibilities to the state's 500,000 veterans and 8,000 Army Guard and Air Guard members.

 

      “Saving money to save jobs. You are to be commended,” Oroho said.