ABM’s Energy Performance Contracting Program Allows School System to Update Infrastructure Using Energy Savings
ABM (NYSE: ABM), a leading provider of facility solutions, has initiated an Energy Performance Contracting program for Boaz City Schools in Boaz, Alabama. ABM's customized solution is projected to save Boaz City Schools more than $6.8 million
in energy and operating costs over a 15-year period, which the school
system will utilize to cover the costs of the facility upgrades. The
project launched in September 2018 and is scheduled for completion in May 2019.
Energy and operations savings will be achieved by
implementing lighting, HVAC and control upgrades at each of the school
system’s six facilities. The upgrades will save Boaz City Schools more than $400,000 in energy and operating costs in the first year, which will climb during the life of the program, resulting in savings of over $6.8 million.
Boaz
City Schools selected ABM’s customized solution after determining the
infrastructure at six of its facilities is aging and inefficient, or
near the end of its lifespan. ABM’s solution includes upgraded lighting
and HVAC systems at Boaz Elementary, Intermediate, Middle and High schools, Corley Elementary School, and the Board and District Offices.
This project marks the second time ABM has initiated an Energy Performance Contracting program for Boaz City Schools. In 2004, ABM’s Energy Performance Contracting Program helped Boaz save more than $3.3 million in energy and operating costs over a 10-year period. During Boaz
City Schools’ first Energy Performance Contracting program, ABM
installed high-efficiency LED lighting systems and controls in portions
of the district. The newest project features the installation of
high-efficient LED lighting systems and controls at facilities that were
not included in the first project.
“Boaz City Schools has a continued commitment to keeping their facilities operating efficiently,” said Mark Newsome,
President of ABM Technical Solutions. “Their emphasis on energy
efficiency is creating a positive impact for students’ learning
environments, and creating energy and operating cost savings, which is
benefitting taxpayers.”
ABM's Energy Performance Contracting Program
will enable the school system to make these upgrades without impacting
its capital budget. The program is designed as a financial solution to
meet clients' technical facility needs and sustainability goals. The
goal is to drive costs out of a client's operating budget, allowing
savings to be reallocated to fund mission critical facility needs. Click here for a video on how ABM is providing facility and financial solutions to school districts without upfront costs or tax increases.
As part of the Energy Performance Contracting
program, ABM is working with SMALLab Learning to install a Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) laboratory at Boaz Middle School. Schools across Alabama
and nationwide are highlighting the importance of offering STEM
programming to students to increase engagement and provide students with
an opportunity to learn hands-on lessons in a laboratory setting. The
demand for STEM education is driven by the increase of the science,
technology, engineering and mathematics-based job market.
"Boaz
City Schools’ goal to provide students with additional STEM learning
opportunities was an important focus of this project, and we are proud
to be able to help them implement this initiative," Newsome said.
ABM is also working with Global Plasma Solutions to
reduce the impact of outside air on the school system’s indoor air
quality. ABM plans to install ionization units within the school
system’s HVAC units to reduce humidity in the schools, while providing
cleaner, fresher air for its occupants, increasing comfort and
ultimately providing a positive impact on the learning environment.
“ABM’s customized solution for Boaz
City Schools will allow us to upgrade our existing facilities through
energy and operational savings, without affecting our budget,” said Dr. Shannon Stanley, Superintendent of Boaz
City Schools. "This solution will give us the freedom to continue
looking for ways to renovate and upgrade our facilities, and direct
additional funds toward those efforts.”
Click here for a complete listing of the energy-efficiency improvements at Boaz City Schools’ facilities. Highlights of the project include:
- Installation of a STEM laboratory at Boaz Middle School
- Retrofitting lighting systems to energy-efficient LED lighting at four schools and the Board and District Offices
- Rejuvenating HVAC units at five facilities, which will be operated by state-of-the-art HVAC control systems to maximize energy and operational efficiency
- Refrigeration management programs will be put in place at four of the school system's buildings
- Upgrading ventilation systems at all six facilities to reduce outside air from entering, and sealing building envelopes at five facilities
For more information on ABM's Energy Performance Contracting Program and other offerings, visit www.abm.com.
