by Shane Henson — May 17, 2013—Ameresco Inc., an energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced this month that it will be installing more than $1.6 million of energy efficiency improvements at 28 county-owned buildings within Lewis and Clark County, Montana.
According to Ameresco, the improvements are being made possible through an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) the company signed with the county. Through an ESPC, Ameresco pays all costs involved in identifying and installing new or upgraded energy-efficient equipment. The energy upgrades are paid for by a portion of the cost savings resulting from these improvements over a set term. At the end of the ESPC, the customer owns all of the improvements and receives all of the continuing savings.
Prior to beginning work on the ESPC, Ameresco performed a full investment grade audit to identify areas where energy savings measures could be implemented throughout the county-owned buildings and facilities, as well as created a plan for the design and implementation of project renovations. The comprehensive ESPC includes increased energy efficiency in multiple buildings through lighting upgrades, building envelope improvements, water conservation measures, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and boiler system upgrades at the Law Enforcement Center and Myrna Loy buildings.
The county also outlined additional capital cost avoidance improvements to be made, which include new dual pane windows at the historic courthouse and heat pump replacements at the Law Enforcement Center. In addition to expected savings of more than $77,000 annually on energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be reduced by 2,700 metric tons, which is the equivalent of taking 83 cars off the road or planting 1,800 pine trees.
The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2013.
