Ameresco, a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, has announced its partnership with the largest school district in North Carolina, Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) for a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract. The $6.7 million project will include ten individual energy conservation measures (ECMs) in twelve different school facilities.

“Our partnership with Ameresco will result in updated facilities while providing improved learning environments for our students and teachers,” said WCPSS Superintendent Cathy Moore. "We are pleased to have this opportunity."

Funded through energy and operational cost savings, the project is expected to save WCPSS more than $690,000 annually over the 15-year contract term. Project ECMs include LED lighting system improvements, domestic water conversion, Building Automation System (BAS) upgrades, Variable Air Volume (VAV) air handling unit upgrades, boiler system replacement, pumping system upgrades, cooling tower Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), demand control ventilation upgrades and air handling unit replacements. At completion the project is expected to reduce WCPSS energy usage by 7,209,000 kWh annually.

“We are delighted to partner with the Wake County Public School System in support of their commitment to energy conservation while redirecting funds for much needed upgrades and the modernization of facilities,” said David J. Anderson, executive vice president and director of Ameresco. “In addition to a more energy- and cost-efficient operation, the district will benefit from improved classroom and teaching environments.”

Ameresco’s services for the contract include project development engineering, ESPC project modeling, ECM detailed design and engineering, project construction management, equipment and systems start-up and commissioning, post-construction monitoring, energy rebate application management, energy savings measurement and verification, and training of school staff on all installed equipment and systems.