Newark
City Scorecard Rank
73
Newark, NJ
16.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 0.5 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Newark has a goal to reduce emissions 80% below 2006 levels by 2050. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city.
Renewable Energy Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.
Last updated: September 2021
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement for multiple clean energy initiatives with marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies.
Equity-Driven Decision-Making
We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.
Equity Accountability Measures
We were unable to determine whether the city has adopted specific goals, metrics, or protocols to track how multiple energy, sustainability, or climate action initiatives are affecting local marginalized groups.
Last updated: September 2021
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
Newark entered into an energy performance contract to install combined heat and power into existing energy systems.
Last updated: September 2021
Adaptive Mitigation List All
UHI Mitigation Goal
The city’s Sustainability Action Plan includes a goal to double the city’s tree canopy.
UHI Policies and Programs
We were unable to determine if the city has adopted specific policies or programs that incorporate requirements or incentives to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Last updated: September 2021
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
We could not verify if the city has programs committed to developing a dedicated energy efficiency and/or renewable energy workforce.
Last updated: July 2021
Buildings Policies
Score: 6.5 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of New Jersey requires all commercial buildings to meet ASHRAE 90.1-2016 and all residential buildings to meet 2018 IECC with local amendments. To learn more about the building energy codes required in the State of New Jersey, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
New Jersey requires all commercial buildings to meet ASHRAE 90.1-2016. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 48.7.
Residential
New Jersey requires all residential buildings to meet the 2018 IECC with local amendments. The city’s zEPI score for its residential energy code is 51.5.
Solar-readiness policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted solar-readiness policies or requirements.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted policies requiring buildings to include EV-charging infrastructure or be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
We could not find information on whether the city sets low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings.
Last updated: July 2021
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
We could not find information on the number of full-time employees the city staffs to enforce the energy code. The city's code requires plan reviews and site inspections to verify compliance. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.
Last updated: July 2021
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
New Jersey's Clean Energy Act of 2018 requires benchmarking by owners and operators of commercial buildings over 25,000 sq. ft. using the USEPA Portfolio Manager tool.
Last updated: July 2021
Transportation
Score: 5 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
Newark does not have a sustainable transportation plan in place.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
Newark does not have a VMT/GHG target in place for the transportation sector.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
Newark does not track progress towards a VMT/GHG target.
Last Updated: December 2021
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
Newark’s zoning ordinance is a form-based code.
Residential Parking Policies
Newark has not reduced minimum parking requirements for developers.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
Newark does not have location efficient incentives or disclosure requirements.
Last Updated: December 2021
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
Newark does not have a mode shift target in place for the transportation sector.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
Newark does not track progress towards its mode shift target.
Complete Streets
Newark’s complete streets policy scored 45.6 out of 100 according to the National Complete Streets Coalition.
Last Updated: December 2021
Public Transit List All
The transportation entities that serve the City of Newark have received $1,440,854,149.60 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $136.01 per capita between 2015 and 2019 within the Authority's service area.
Access to Transit Services
The Transit Connectivity Index measures transit service levels. It is based on the number of bus routes and train stations within walking distance for households scaled by frequency of service. The City of Newark's Transit Connectivity Index value is 8.7, scoring 1.5 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: December 2021
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
At this time, Newark does not offer incentives for citizens to purchase hybrid, plug-in, or EV vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
PSE&G offers a time-of-use rate for EV charging at reduced off-peak rates.
EV Charging
The City has 42 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 14.9 ports per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
Newark does not have an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Newark does not have an EV transit bus goal.
Last Updated: December 2021
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Newark does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.
Last Updated: December 2021
Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
The city’s R10 Program promotes construction with a focus on location efficiency by providing density bonuses to developments that provide a certain number of affordable housing.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
Newark does not provide any subsidies for efficient transportation options to low-income residents.
Last Updated: December 2021
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 3.5 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Public Service Enterprises Group (PSE&G), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric and natural gas utility for the City of Newark. Energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in New Jersey are administered by the Office of Clean Energy within the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) under the New Jersey Clean Energy Program. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the New Jersey page of the State Database.
The Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities is the municipal utility that provides the City of Newark with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: July 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, according to NJ BPU and PSE&G, PSE&G achieved 27,171 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 0.07% of its retail sales. In 2019, PSE&G spent $28,714,000 on electric energy efficiency programs, which represents 0.74% of its electric retail revenue.
In 2019, PSE&G reported 2.30 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 0.13% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, PSE&G spent $19,625,308 on natural gas energy efficiency, which equates to $11.60 per residential gas customer. These savings figures cover PSE&G’s entire service jurisdiction, not just Newark.
PSE&G offers electric and natural gas efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential customers.
At this time, the City of Newark does not have a formal partnership with PSE&G in the form of a jointly developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement. However, Newark collaborates with PSE&G on local implementation of New Jersey’s state-level energy savings plans by providing community outreach.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
PSE&G implements the statewide Comfort Partners program for customers within its electric and gas service territory. The program provides for free installation of cost-effective energy efficiency measures in the home (determined on a home-specific basis) which can include efficient lighting, hot water conservation measures (e.g. water heater insulation, water heater pipe insulation, and energy-saving showerheads and aerators), refrigerator replacement, new thermostats, insulation, air, and duct sealing, heating/cooling equipment maintenance, and other measures. Health and safety measures include roof, electrical, foundation, moisture, plumbing repairs, asbestos abatement, and structural issues.
The Comfort Partners program is administered jointly by all of the electric and gas utilities in New Jersey on behalf of the NJ State Office of Clean Energy (NJOCE). The utilities partner with NJOCE in designing, implementing and promoting the Program. The utilities partner with the NJ Department of Community Affairs’ Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), local municipalities, and nonprofits to leverage funding and resources in order to more comprehensively address the challenging housing stock encountered, and also partner with local nonprofits to assist with promoting the program to low income customers.
In 2019, according to PSE&G, it achieved 2,469 MWh and 0.13 MMtherms in energy savings, while spending $5,660,000 and $8,490,000 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. PSE&G served 2,684 and 2,298 electric and natural gas low-income customers in 2019.
Multifamily Programs
PSE&G’s Multifamily Energy Efficiency program provides technical expertise, upfront funding for engineering and construction costs, zero percent interest, and on-bill repayment of the customer portion of the project cost. The program includes lighting, heating, cooling system upgrades, motors, domestic hot water equipment, appliances, insulation, air sealing, and other energy efficiency opportunities for both electric and natural gas fuels as well as both residential and common equipment owned by the property owner. The program aims to provide deep retrofits by offering a wide variety of cost-effective measures. The program serves both market-rate and low-income properties, and properties financed by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) are given 10 years to repay their project costs, instead of the 5-year term provided to non-NJHMFA properties.
In 2019, according to PSE&G, it achieved 1,753 MWh and 0.21 MMtherms savings from its multifamily program, while spending $6,771,149 on electric and $7,948,740 on natural gas multifamily programs while serving 8 housing units.
Last Updated: July 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
PSE&G does not provide building managers with automated benchmarking data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for multitenant commercial or multifamily buildings. The City of Newark does collect community-wide energy usage data from the utilities, but the city does not make this available to the public for planning and evaluation purposes. The City of Newark does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities.
Last Updated: July 2021
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2019, PSE&G set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2046 from a 2005 baseline, with a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve this goal, Eversource Energy will need to reduce emissions by 3.2% annually from 2019 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
At this time, we cannot confirm if the city of Newark participates in activities or strategies to help spur or encourage more utility-scale or distributed renewable energy generation from its local electric utility, such as testifying in public utility commission proceedings related to renewable energy, creating a formal partnership with the electric utility on renewable generation, or participating in utility planning efforts to increase renewable generation.
Last Updated: July 2021
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
The energy and water utilities do not offer joint energy and water efficiency programs. At this point, the City of Newark has not established a water savings target or goal.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
The water utility has not set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy.
Last Updated: July 2021
Local Government Score:
0.5 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
The City of Newark adopted the Sustainability Action Plan to drive climate and energy action in both the community and municipal operations.
Climate Mitigation Goal
The city does not have a climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for municipal operations, but the Sustainability Action Plan states a general intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in city operations.
Energy Reduction Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a current municipal energy reduction goal.
Renewable Energy Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal.
Last updated: June 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
We were unable to find a current procurement policy or fuel-efficiency requirements. However, in the Sustainability Action Plan, the City highlights the prioritization of GHG emissions reduction in fleet management as possible policy changes, as well as an increased focus on fuel efficiency and electric vehicle use. We were unable to find data on the City's fleet composition.
Public Lighting
We were unable to find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. We were unable to confirm if Newark has an outdoor lighting upgrade program.
Onsite and offsite renewable systems
We were unable to find information regarding onsite and offsite renewable energy systems in Newark.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to verify if the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
Last updated: June 2021
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
We were unable to find information regarding Newark’s benchmarking practices.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We were unable to confirm if Newark has implemented a retrofit strategy, but the city had listed efficiency retrofits through an energy service company as an action step associated with the city’s goal to reduce municipal energy consumption by 20%. The ESCO will perform an energy audit to develop a comprehensive Energy Savings Plan and will recommend energy conservation measures to the City. In 2019, Newark announced that the city will partner with Honeywell to implement an energy savings improvement project. The program will upgrade 17 municipal facilities to ultimately cut energy operating costs by over 30% with a potential savings of nearly $1 million annually.
Last updated: June 2021