About SmartStart Schools
New Jersey is embarking on the largest school construction program in its history. Over the next decade, the State of New Jersey will invest $8.6 billion to renovate existing school buildings and build new ones. This investment includes full funding by the State of all school renovation and construction in 30 special needs districts, known as the Abbott School Districts.
New Jersey recognizes that a well-designed, well-engineered and well-constructed school not only saves energy but also directly influences the learning environment.
History tells us that these new schools will be with us for decades – probably with very few alterations. That means the educational experience for future generations of New Jersey schoolchildren will be shaped in great measure by the design decisions we make today.
Understanding the importance of good school design, the state has created the New Jersey Schools Development Authority to ensure that all new schools in New Jersey be designed according to high energy and environmental standards set forth in their 21st Century Schools Design Manual. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to require that all new schools receiving state financial aid be designed for maximum efficiency.
The NJ SmartStart Buildings Program provides a complete portfolio of services and financial incentives to school districts that are renovating or expanding existing schools – or building new ones.
The NJ SmartStart Buildings Program staff and consultants will work with your architects, engineers, administrators and facility managers to recommend high-performance equipment or building design choices to improve the efficiency of your building by up to 20 percent over minimum building code standards.
NJ SmartStart Buildings offers financial incentives at each stage of the design and construction process to reduce – or in some cases eliminate – any additional first-cost premium that might stand in the way of a school district making the efficient choice.
The program works within the district's facility needs, financial constraints and time schedule. NJ SmartStart Buildings is designed to add value – without adding time or complexity.