Ameresco Inc., an energy efficiency and renewable energy company, began work on an energy savings performance contract with Lewis and Clark County, Montana.
Ameresco will install over $1.6 million of energy efficiency improvements at 28 county-owned buildings. The energy efficiency improvements are expected to save the county an estimated $77,000 annually while also addressing critical infrastructure needs. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2013.
Prior to beginning work on the contract, Ameresco performed a full investment grade audit to identify areas where energy savings measures could be implemented throughout the county-owned buildings and facilities, as well as created a plan for the design and implementation of project renovations.
The contract includes increased energy efficiency in multiple buildings through lighting upgrades, building envelope improvements, water conservation measures, and HVAC and boiler system upgrades at the Law Enforcement Center and Myrna Loy buildings.
The county also outlined additional capital cost avoidance improvements to be made, which include new dual pane windows at the historic courthouse and heat pump replacements at the Law Enforcement Center. In addition to expected savings of over $77,000 annually on energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be reduced by 2,700 metric tons, which is the equivalent of taking 83 cars off the road or planting 1,800 pine trees.
By Editors of Electric Light & Power/ POWERGRID International