Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced today the completion of the $2.7 million Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) project with the Oconto Falls School District in Oconto Falls, WI. The ESPC included energy efficient infrastructure upgrades at six facilities: Oconto Falls High School, Washington Middle School, Oconto Falls Elementary School, Abrams Middle School, Oconto Falls District Office, and the bus garage.
The District expects to save over $113,000 in energy costs and $24,000 in avoided repair and operational and maintenance costs annually for the duration of the 20 year contract. Ameresco’s performance guarantee insures that the efficiency equipment costs will be paid for over time through the energy savings.
“We’re excited that the District’s energy consumption is being reduced. The upgrades we made will help save a significant amount of money, which can be redirected to other educational needs,” said Dave Polashek, District Superintendent. “The construction phase of the Oconto Falls School District’s ESPC was completed in the fall and with two of our elementary schools now being heated with new energy efficient condensing boilers, our students and staff have the additional benefit of a more comfortable learning environment. Three of our buildings also have new domestic water heating systems delivering hot water to the schools’ kitchens and cafeterias. Modifications in our IT system allowed us to redirect resources into a one-to-one technology initiative. I was pleased with Ameresco’s flexibility as we had to revise the overall project slightly to better fit our needs after we got into the process. The Ameresco partnership was a great fit at just the right moment to fill our need to save energy.”
The energy saving upgrades under the ESPC included: lighting improvements, water conservation retrofits, building envelope and air infiltration reduction, exterior low-e window film, networked building automation control replacements, IT solutions, transformer replacement, boiler plant replacement and domestic hot water system upgrades. The District will also benefit from maintenance cost savings as a result of the replacement of elementary school windows and a section of the roof which eliminated leaks and ongoing water damage. In addition, Ameresco installed interior LED lighting in selected areas that may provide as much as 60 percent maintenance savings over the cost of the conventional fluorescent lighting it replaced. And, at the District’s request, Ameresco redirected some masonry restoration contract dollars to complete work on a building which had recently been added to the District’s critical needs list. The scope of work redirection allowed the District to complete some critical repairs on a separate building without an additional cost.
“Ameresco worked diligently to accommodate the District’s education, sporting, and maintenance activities throughout the entire construction phase,” said Louis P. Maltezos, Executive Vice President, Ameresco. “It was very important for the District to be able to use its buildings not only during school hours, but early mornings, late afternoons, evenings, and occasionally weekends, too, requiring Ameresco’s team to follow an intense scheduling ritual to allow for construction access and safe implementation work. We were happy to accommodate– completing the project on time and without change orders by adjusting the construction schedules and working very closely with the District Staff.”
The annual emissions reduction from this project is expected to be approximately 740 metric tons of CO2, the equivalent of taking 153 cars off the road or powering 37 homes each year.
Ameresco has a long history of partnering with communities and schools across North America to improve energy infrastructure and install renewable energy technologies. Ameresco’s pioneering of the ESPC financing model has made the budget-neutral solution an increasingly popular option for customers, by providing energy efficiency upgrades using a guaranteed savings approach. Ameresco coordinates the upfront project costs and the customer repays that investment with their energy savings over time.
About Oconto Falls School District, Oconto Falls WI
In 1904 the first class to graduate from Oconto Falls High School walked across the graduation stage, and ever since, the School District has positioned itself as on a leader in the state of WI. Oconto Falls serves approximately 1800 students and is located just north of historic Green Bay, Titletown, USA. The staff of nearly 160 teachers and 250 total staff members is committed to serving the varied needs that its students and families bring to the schools. Recognized locally and across the state, the District’s faculty boasts Kohl Fellows, Wisconsin Teachers of the Year, National Board Certifications, and most importantly are the 160 educators who are dedicated to their student’s success, today and into the future.
About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability 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 66 offices in 33 states, five Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom. Ameresco has more than 900 employees.