by Shane Henson — August 7, 2013—School officials within Eatonville School District in Eatonville, Washington, can expect to see a substantial decrease in the district’s electricity bills through the recent completion of its $2.2 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) with global energy specialist Schneider Electric.
Per the contract, Schneider Electric overhauled the existing heating system at Columbia Crest Elementary School, and provided significant lighting and controls upgrades to Eatonville Middle School and Eatonville High School. The project will enable the district to sustain long-term energy efficiency in its facilities while saving approximately 24 percent of its annual energy costs, says Schneider Electric, as well as increase indoor comfort and create a better environment for student learning and achievement.
The majority of the ESPC focused on Columbia Crest Elementary School, whose heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) system was in need of repair and lacked integration with the district’s building management systems. In collaboration with authorized Schneider Electric Partner CCI, Schneider Electric installed an entirely new and integrated HVAC system, lighting controls and direct digital controls. The ESPC also included upgrading the high school’s pool heat exchanger as well as retrofitting the exterior lighting retrofits at all three schools. These upgrades deliver significant improvements to the district’s efficiency and productivity.
The ESPC will provide Eatonville School District $1.6 million in energy savings over the lifetime of the project. In addition to the financial benefits the ESPC will bring, the district can also expect to reduce its energy use by 1.6 million kilowatt hours, which is equivalent to taking 282 cars off the roads annually, says the company.
According to Schneider Electric, in the past 20 years it has successfully implemented nearly 500 ESPCs across the nation and helped clients around the world save more than $1 billion. An ESPC is designed to help publicly funded entities make capital improvements over longer payback periods. An ESPC offers many long-term benefits such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management and environmental protection. Typically, new, more efficient equipment and upgraded facility automation systems maximize energy efficiency and generate utility savings.
