Energy Savings Performance Contract to help Texas school district to
save $1.2 million with upgrades made across 39 facilities
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. & MCALLEN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 5, 2012--
Ameresco,
Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy
company, announced today that it has signed an Energy
Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with the McAllen Independent
School District (McAllen ISD), one of the largest districts in the Rio
Grande Valley. Ameresco has begun construction on energy efficiency
measures at 39 facilities district wide in McAllen, Texas. Once
complete, the measures are expected to save McAllen ISD more than $1.2
million annually over the term of the contract.
Faced with continuing state education budget reductions and a slowing
economy, McAllen ISD was experiencing an increasing failure rate of
critical mechanical equipment that had reached the end of its useful
life. This forward-thinking school district identified several resources
and, when combined with an ESPC, will be able to repair or replace aged
equipment and address significant deferred maintenance issues.
Ameresco’s ESPC was able to stretch McAllen ISD’s dollars into more than
$16 million of infrastructure renewal. McAllen ISD is now able to make
critical upgrades to its energy infrastructure and increase energy
efficiency without bearing the burden of initial capital investment from
taxpayers.
“Ameresco understood our sense of urgency and was able to work quickly
with the District team on a transparent basis to address our critical
needs,” said Mike Barrera, EdD, Assistant Superintendent of District
Operations for McAllen ISD. “The performance contract concept and
Ameresco’s expertise has allowed us to leverage resources, make
improvements, and implement conservation measures otherwise not possible
in these economic times.”
Using a variety of data from sources, such as site surveys and facility
interviews, Ameresco identified 17 energy conservation measures to
increase energy efficiency throughout McAllen ISD. A few of the upgrades
and energy efficiency measures that Ameresco will begin to implement
this month include the following:
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Retrofit 39,958 light fixtures
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Install 4,494 automatic lighting controls
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Replace 1,003 sink aerators with low flow aerators
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Install power management scripts for 10,000 computers
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Install 121 internet-enabled programmable thermostats in portable
buildings
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Install 16 air curtains for kitchen backdoors
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Replace failing roofs at four schools
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Replace 118 split system heating and air conditioning units
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Replace five chillers
“What the McAllen Independent School District will be able to accomplish
through this contract is a testament to what a performance contract can
do to stretch diminished budget dollars,” said B.N. Tripathi, PE, Vice
President at Ameresco. “Whether a school district has received bonds,
utility incentives or not, Ameresco can leverage these dollars with
energy savings into greater upgrades of aging infrastructure. This
project will serve as a case study to school districts throughout the
Lone Star State and the nation on how a school district can make
critical energy efficiency upgrades despite challenging economic
conditions.”
The project also brings significant environmental benefits, eliminating
the production of 6,498 tons of carbon dioxide each year. This annual
reduction is equivalent to removing 1,226 cars from the road, or
powering 702 homes.
The ESPC model enables budget-neutral energy efficiency upgrades by
guaranteeing a minimum level of energy savings over the term of the
contract. Ameresco coordinates the upfront project costs, and the
customer repays that investment with their energy savings over time.
About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent
provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure
upgrades, and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North
America. Ameresco’s services include upgrades to a facility’s energy
infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of
renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy
saving, environmentally responsible projects with federal, state and
local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing
authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate
headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco provides local expertise
through its 62 offices in 34 states and five Canadian provinces.
Ameresco has more than 900 employees. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.
About McAllen Independent School District
McAllen Independent School District is one of the largest districts in
the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. With over 25,300 students, the school
district has a long tradition of setting the bar. They have a
globally-recognized advanced academics program that draws the attention
of universities across the country.
Source: Ameresco, Inc.
Ameresco, Inc.
CarolAnn Hibbard, 508-661-2264
news@ameresco.com
