by Shane Henson — June 22, 2012—Given all the expenses required to operate schools, many school officials may believe that setting up the systems needed to make schools more energy efficient and sustainable in general is too costly, even though they realize it is needed and has proven to be cost-effective in the long term. With this in mind, ABM, a provider of integrated facilities solutions worldwide, developed its Bundled Energy Solutions program as a financial solution to meet clients’ technical facility needs. ABM’s goal is to drive costs out of clients’ operating budgets in a manner that allows them to reallocate funding for other facilities enhancements, says the company. And, as demonstrated recently with schools within Michigan’s Southgate Community school district, the program works.
ABM’s Building Solutions division announced it has partnered with the district to help implement district-wide facilities improvements funded through cost savings as a result of its Bundled Energy Solutions Program. The school district plans to reallocate $2.7 million in energy management savings to go toward critical asset modernization for 11 schools and buildings in the district.
The improvement project, which began in April 2012 and is scheduled to conclude in February 2013, is entirely self-funded and does not require any additional tax burden on the Southgate community or future borrowing capacity of the district. The project will be implemented in three phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by September to coincide with the new school year. The wide range of upgrades will include new high-efficiency boilers and lighting, weatherstripping and air-sealing the windows and doors, new demand-controlled ventilation, and retro-commissioning the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, says ABM.
“As a deficit school district, we look for the best ways to stay financially viable while trying to address the continuous needs of our district,” explained Dan Phillips, director of business and finance for Southgate Community Schools. “Some of the needs that had not received adequate attention were those of energy savings and capital outlay pertaining to district lighting, doors, windows, roofing, and most notably, HVAC. When ABM introduced the project to the district last fall, it seemed like an obvious ‘yes’ for all of us. After speaking with other school districts that have utilized the services of ABM Building Solutions in the past, we began the process. We were all pleasantly surprised at the level of upgrades we could receive with a guaranteed savings from the reduction of our energy consumption.”
During the second and third phase of the project, ABM Building Solutions will install a district-wide, Web-based HVAC control system, allowing for better control of building temperatures and time schedules. The control system will also assist the district in detecting equipment problems and notifying appropriate staff in a timely manner. Several lighting upgrades will also be made, most notably, the lighting in the gymnasiums will be upgraded to high-efficiency, low maintenance T5HO fixtures, lamps and ballasts. In addition, a three-year energy and operational assurance program will be implemented to ensure Southgate Community Schools are achieving optimal savings.
Other highlights of the initiative include solutions for the district to eliminate the persistent water leakage at Gersich Middle School and Davidson Middle School. A ground water management system will be installed at Gersich, while Davidson’s windows will be re-glazed.
