Bledsoe County Schools Reaches $500,000 Energy Savings Milestone in Partnership with Schneider Electric
Pikeville, Tenn. (PRWEB) October 03, 2017 -- Energy and sustainability expert Schneider Electric today announced that Bledsoe County Schools in Pikeville, Tenn. has reached a $500,000 energy savings milestone as a result of a comprehensive facilities improvement project. Schneider Electric presented a Savings Milestone Award to the Bledsoe County Board of Education to recognize the district’s significant strides in energy conservation since 2009.
Like many school districts across the country, Bledsoe County Schools had outdated building equipment and technologies throughout its facilities, which resulted in comfort issues for students and staff and presented challenges to the maintenance department. The district is committed to improving facilities, but with limited available budget, its list of deferred maintenance projects continued to grow each year.
To address these issues, Bledsoe County Schools partnered with Schneider Electric to conduct a comprehensive energy audit and install $1 million in infrastructure and efficiency improvements across its five schools and Board of Education building. The customized energy efficiency solution included a district-wide energy management system that allows facility staff to monitor and control all district buildings from a single location. Schneider Electric also replaced outdated lighting in classrooms and gymnasiums with high efficiency lighting that provides a brighter, safer learning environment.
“This $500,000 savings milestone is a testament to the success of our long-term partnership with Schneider Electric,” said Jennifer Terry, Director of Schools, Bledsoe County. “Over the years, we’ve used energy savings to create a learning environment where our students thrive, all at no cost to our local community.”
The project was funded through an energy savings performance contract (ESPC), which uses projected utility savings to pay for infrastructure improvements. This enables cash-strapped school districts to tackle deferred maintenance projects without raising taxes in the local community.
“Bledsoe County Schools is a shining example of how school districts can leverage energy efficiency to meet their operational goals and take on much-needed infrastructure improvements,” said Tammy Fulop, Vice President, Schneider Electric. “We are committed to helping schools in Tennessee and beyond by aligning our expertise and solutions to address their operational challenges.”
In addition to annual energy savings, the project has also made a substantial environmental impact on the community, removing 4,329 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, which is equivalent to taking 914 passenger vehicles off the road for one year, powering 451 homes for one year or planting 112,195 trees.
Schneider Electric leverages its capabilities in technology, energy and engineering to deliver state-of-the-art improvements that allow government institutions and local school districts to realize immense energy savings and enhanced operational efficiency while achieving their goals and advancing their missions and objectives.
Over the past 11 years, Schneider Electric has implemented 57 ESPC projects across the Southeast, totaling $11 million in guaranteed annual energy savings. In addition, Schneider Electric has secured more than $40 million in grants, loans and utility rebates for clients in Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama.
Schneider Electric is committed to helping cities and schools throughout Tennessee meet their energy efficiency and sustainability goals. Early next year, the company will open a new regional office in Franklin, Tenn. which will create 250 new jobs and relocate 900 current employees. The office will be home to more than 1,100 Schneider Electric employees, making it the company’s largest office in the country. Located at Two Franklin Park in a newly constructed 150,000 square foot space, the office will be comprised of engineering, sales, R&D and corporate functions for several national and global business units.
Over the past 23 years, Schneider Electric has successfully implemented more than 660 ESPC projects across the nation, saving its clients nearly $1.7 billion. This project delivery method helps publicly funded entities make capital improvements over longer payback periods and offers many long-term benefits such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management and environmental protection.
For more information on how Schneider Electric helps K-12 schools tackle energy efficiency, please visit http://www.enable.schneider-electric.com or contact your local Schneider Electric representative.
-XXX-
Photo Caption:
From left to right: Madalena Pierangelino, Schneider Electric; Carl Boynton, Director of Operations, Bledsoe County Schools; Brian Turner, Operations Manager, Bledsoe County Schools; John Rehus, Schneider Electric; Jennifer Terry, Director of Schools, Bledsoe County; Todd Smith, Schneider Electric.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management – Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.
http://www.schneider-electric.us
Hashtags: #SchneiderElectric #BledsoeCountySchools #K-12 #EnergyEfficiency #ESPC #LifeIsOn #InnovationAtEveryLevel
Trevor Eckart, Text100, http://www.enable.schneider-electric.com, +1 585-697-2615, [email protected]
Share this article