Ameresco Completes Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Project with Central Michigan’s Montcalm Community College

Framingham, MA and Sidney, MI — October 24, 2012 — Ameresco, Inc.  (NYSE: AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced today the completion of energy efficiency upgrades to Montcalm Community College (MCC), located in Sidney Township, Michigan.  As part of the $1.2 million Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), Ameresco implemented various infrastructure upgrades and energy saving measures across the College’s two campuses.  The new equipment and energy management system installed will allow the College to save an estimated $129,000 annually over the ten-year contract without the burden of up-front capital investment.

Located in central Michigan between Grand Rapids and Lansing, MCC sought to implement a campus-wide “face lift” in order to enhance its infrastructure and educational environment simultaneously.  As part of the partnership, Ameresco installed lighting and HVAC upgrades, an energy management system to increase control over energy consuming systems, as well as vending machine controls and building envelope enhancements to save on annual energy costs.

“Montcalm Community College selected Ameresco as its partner given its extensive track record of working with institutions of higher education,” said MCC President Bob Ferrentino.  “The work that has been done provided building enhancements which have improved the learning environment and comfort for our students while reducing our energy costs.”

Along with energy efficiency enhancements, Ameresco also provided energy efficiency training to staff to help MCC develop campus-wide energy standards.  Ameresco collaborated with MCC staff to identify areas of focus and improve the resources available to further the level of training and resulting awareness of energy efficient behaviors by students and faculty.

“Montcalm Community College has shown real leadership by implementing energy efficient measures campus-wide, and we are proud to partner with them to reach their sustainability goals,” said Louis P. Maltezos, executive vice president of Ameresco.  “We have a history of working with academic institutions in Michigan and across North America, and we have found that implementing energy saving measures through a budget-neutral ESPC model enable institutions such as MCC to reinvest back into programs that will have a direct benefit to students, faculty and the broader community.”

Ameresco’s work with MCC comes on the heels of a nearly complete ESPC with neighboring Ovid Elsie Area K-12 Schools, following a trend of educational facilities of all sizes in Michigan and across North America that are looking to save on costs by implementing energy infrastructure upgrades designed to stabilize and reduce ongoing utility costs.  As part of its budget-neutral ESPC model, Ameresco can modernize a single facility or provide comprehensive campus-wide energy management systems, built from cutting-edge energy efficient and renewable energy solutions, financed entirely with future savings from campus energy conservation.

About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America. Ameresco’s services include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco provides local expertise through its 63 offices in 34 states and five Canadian provinces. Ameresco has more than 900 employees. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

About Montcalm Community College
Founded in 1965 on the former Anderson farm, MCC’s main campus is situated on 220 beautiful acres near Sidney. Additional features include the historic Barn Theater, Montcalm Heritage Village, a newly renovated center for visual arts, an NCAA-sized swimming pool and three miles of self-guided nature trails. Additional sites include the Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TEC) in Greenville, the Panhandle Area Center in Howard City and the Ionia Educational Center.  With average semester enrollments of more than 2,200 students, MCC offers 62 associate degree, certificate and job-training programs; courses for transfer to bachelor’s degree programs; online courses; and articulations with other colleges that offer students a seamless transfer.  MCC combines state-of-the-art facilities and technology with its highly qualified instructors, small class sizes and affordable tuition to meet the educational needs of its community. Some of MCC’s 62 programs include nursing and allied health, business, integrated manufacturing technology, computers and more.