PINE TWP, Mercer County — The Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded a $700,000 grant to George Junior Republic to implement an energy and water conservation project on the George Junior Republic campus.

The grant will decrease energy costs and increase energy awareness for both staff and youth.

Based on the results of a level-one and level-two energy audit, George Junior realized substantial cost savings were possible with the implementation of goal driven and outcome oriented energy and water conservation measures.

“The energy and water conservation project will have a significant positive impact on the organization’s operating expense,” said George Junior CEO Richard Losasso.

The project incorporates six overarching goals and will assist the organization in becoming more energy efficient. Energy and water expenses for buildings on the campus exceed $1 million annually. The grant will place George Junior in a better position to improve services to youth.

The energy and water conservation project will have a significant environmental impact eliminating almost 700 metric tons of C02 emissions in the first year after completion. This is the equivalent of emissions of more than 100 homes and eliminating almost 150 cars on the road each day.

The project began in July. Physical improvements on campus will be completed by late fall and energy conservation education efforts will be ongoing.

George Junior is a residential treatment facility for court adjudicated and at-risk, high school-aged boys. It has nearly 500 students.