Putnam Valley Central School District, which serves a total of 1,700 elementary, middle, and high school students in a suburban area northeast of New York City, announced on May 4, that it has signed an energy performance contract with Con Edison Solutions, a competitive retailer and energy services provider. The pact is designed to significantly improve the energy efficiency of the district’s buildings and infrastructure, enhance the learning environment through improved comfort, and slow the pace of escalating energy costs – with guaranteed savings of $380,000 annually.
Prior to being selected to implement the energy performance contract, Con Edison Solutions developed a comprehensive energy audit for the school district. The team visited each of the sites, met with facilities management and staff to discuss areas of concern, and reviewed available plans and drawings to verify existing conditions and develop constructability plans for proposed improvements.
After reviewing both its findings and available documentation, Con Edison Solutions determined which combination of proposed improvements would maximize the school district’s cost savings while maintaining the required financing term.
The energy efficiency project addresses more than 275,000 square feet of space. Working closely with the district’s facility management team. as well as KG&D Architects to develop a cost-effective project plan, Con Edison Solutions will provide the following energy conservation measures:
In addition to the savings to be accrued, the school may also enjoy incentives for the project funded by New York State. The New York State Education Department offers school districts an additional 10 percent financial aid on energy performance projects that are voter-approved.
Therefore, in order to bring this additional benefit to the taxpayers of Putnam Valley, the school district will include a separate proposition on the ballot which will be presented to the public for a vote on May 16. With a positive outcome, this project could generate additional aid of more than $600,000 over the 15-year term of contract.
