March 2021 – The Croton-Harmon School District’s $2.5 million energy efficient upgrade was approved on March 25th by the Board of Education.  The district-wide project will be funded 100% out of guaranteed energy savings.

The Energy Performance Contract (EPC) Project boasts the following benefits for the community:

  • $185,000+ in guaranteed energy savings in the first year
  • $1,500,000 in net cash for school district use through project term
  • Elimination of 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year

The energy measures will improve lighting, temperature control, and comfort by performing a comprehensive LED lighting conversion, a pneumatic to Direct Digital Control (DCC) conversion, boiler burner control upgrades, and steam trap replacements. The plans also include roof-mounted solar installations which will reduce energy costs, generate revenue, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. Department of Energy defines energy performance contracting as “a budget-neutral approach to make building improvements that reduce energy and increase operational efficiency.” By partnering with an energy services company, a school district can pay for today’s facility upgrades with tomorrow’s energy savings – and without tapping into capital budgets or increasing taxes!

Croton-Harmon’s EPC project team consists of Honeywell Building Solutions (Honeywell) and Energia. Honeywell is the energy services company selected through a competitive proposal to build the project and guarantee the energy savings. The management of the overall project is provided by Energia, a women-owned company that specializes in the technical review and energy engineering of the project. Energia serves as the “safety-net” to protect Croton-Harmon and ensure the savings materializes.

EPCs are a transformative tool to enhance the learning environment and experience. Honeywell and Energia will also be providing Croton-Harmon with a complimentary student engagement program to involve the students in the project and inspire STEM education.

Submittal to the New York State Education Department is expected to happen in Spring 2021 with final approval before the end of the year.

Also of interest

⋅ Architects Design Upgrades. Contractors Build Upgrades. Energy Engineers Pay for Upgrades.

⋅ Top 5 Ways Energy Performance Contracts Advance the Goals of School District Administrators

⋅ Energia and Westbury Schools: Making Buildings Healthy and Efficient