Ameresco, a renewable energy company that produces efficient energy, declared that it has signed a contract with the Pearl River Union Free School District that offers significant energy-saving opportunities.
The school district, situated around 20 miles northwest of New York City, borders the state of New Jersey and lies west of the Hudson River. The contract will require Ameresco to deliver energy-efficient facilities to Pearl River Middle School, Evans Park Elementary School, Franklin Avenue Elementary School, Pearl River High School, Nauraushaun Building and Lincoln Avenue Elementary School.
The project estimated to cost around $4.2 million includes improving a total of 390,064 square feet area without any investment from the School District. The School district during the anticipated 18 year period of the contract will save over $6.4 million. New York State Education Department (SED) has accorded the necessary sanction for the project and currently the project has been moved into the construction phase.
Before undertaking the project, Ameresco completed a detailed energy performance audit to gain insights into the energy consumption and baseline energy of the prevailing facilities. The company has formulated the required energy upgrades for conserving energy and has currently undertaken operations of installing them.
The energy upgrades suggested by Ameresco includes installation of a solar PV system, improvements in lighting systems and lighting controls, replacement of outside doors, change of water heater, better insulation for attics, and improvements in building envelopments. It has also suggested installing transformers of high efficiency and an integrated building management system, replacement of overhead door and kitchen valve, proper insulation for pipe and tank, replacement of window and unit ventilators and load management for the computers.
The contract will require Amersco to assure a minimum level of savings in terms of energy during the period of the contract. It will also guarantee the school district with increased inflow of cash from the projects surpassing the cash needed for the completion of project thus compensating the amount to be spent on improvements.
Source: http://www.ameresco.com