Ameresco to Start Implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures at McAllen Independent School District

FRAMINGHAM, MA and MCALLEN, TX – March 5, 2012 – Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced today that it has signed an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with the McAllen Independent School District (McAllen ISD), one of the largest districts in the Rio Grande Valley.  Ameresco has begun construction on energy efficiency measures at 39 facilities district wide in McAllen, Texas.  Once complete, the measures are expected to save McAllen ISD more than $1.2 million annually over the term of the contract.

Faced with continuing state education budget reductions and a slowing economy, McAllen ISD was experiencing an increasing failure rate of critical mechanical equipment that had reached the end of its useful life.  This forward-thinking school district identified several resources and, when combined with an ESPC, will be able to repair or replace aged equipment and address significant deferred maintenance issues.

Ameresco’s ESPC was able to stretch McAllen ISD’s dollars into more than $16 million of infrastructure renewal.  McAllen ISD is now able to make critical upgrades to its energy infrastructure and increase energy efficiency without bearing the burden of initial capital investment from taxpayers.

“Ameresco understood our sense of urgency and was able to work quickly with the District team on a transparent basis to address our critical needs,” said Mike Barrera, EdD, Assistant Superintendent of District Operations for McAllen ISD.  “The performance contract concept and Ameresco’s expertise has allowed us to leverage resources, make improvements, and implement conservation measures otherwise not possible in these economic times.”

Using a variety of data from sources, such as site surveys and facility interviews, Ameresco identified 17 energy conservation measures to increase energy efficiency throughout McAllen ISD.  A few of the upgrades and energy efficiency measures that Ameresco will begin to implement this month include the following:
•    Retrofit 39,958 light fixtures
•    Install 4,494 automatic lighting controls
•    Replace 1,003 sink aerators with low flow aerators
•    Install power management scripts for 10,000 computers
•    Install 121 internet-enabled programmable thermostats in portable buildings
•    Install 16 air curtains for kitchen backdoors
•    Replace failing roofs at four schools
•    Replace 118 split system heating and air conditioning units
•    Replace five chillers
“What the McAllen Independent School District will be able to accomplish through this contract is a testament to what a performance contract can do to stretch diminished budget dollars,” said B.N. Tripathi, PE, Vice President at Ameresco. “Whether a school district has received bonds, utility incentives or not, Ameresco can leverage these dollars with energy savings into greater upgrades of aging infrastructure.  This project will serve as a case study to school districts throughout the Lone Star State and the nation on how a school district can make critical energy efficiency upgrades despite challenging economic conditions.”

The ESPC model enables budget-neutral energy efficiency upgrades by guaranteeing a minimum level of energy savings over the term of the contract.  Ameresco coordinates the upfront project costs, and the customer repays that investment with their energy savings over time.

About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, 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 62 offices in 34 states and five Canadian provinces. Ameresco has more than 900 employees. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

About McAllen Independent School District
McAllen Independent School District is one of the largest districts in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  With over 25,300 students, the school district has a long tradition of setting the bar.  They have a globally-recognized advanced academics program that draws the attention of universities across the country.