Bates Technical College Selects Ameresco Quantum to Perform a $5 Million Energy Efficiency Upgrade Project

College to benefit from efficiency measures designed to improve the learning environment, reduce energy costs, save money, and shrink college’s carbon footprint

FRAMINGHAM, MA and TACOMA, WA – January 7, 2011 – Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced today that its business unit Ameresco Quantum, Inc. has signed an energy savings performance contract with Bates Technical College to complete a major energy efficiency project for the college. The project focuses on updating building systems at Bates Technical College’s Downtown Campus, South Campus, and Mohler Campus facilities. The improvements are expected to increase energy efficiency and upgrade important facility systems, and thereby save energy, reduce costs, and reduce the college’s carbon footprint.

“I am excited to work with Ameresco Quantum to upgrade our campus energy systems. With older buildings that currently employ old light fixtures, plumbing fixtures and heating/cooling systems, we are overdue in our need to improve the teaching and learning environments in all of our buildings”, said Marty Mattes, facilities and operations director for Bates Technical College.  “As a result of this project, Bates expects to reduce its utility consumption considerably which will result in significant cost savings that are guaranteed by Ameresco. The project also demonstrates the value that Bates places on sustainability and resource conservation in our facilities master plan.”

“We are pleased to be working with Bates Technical College to perform energy efficiency improvements at their campus facilities,” said Mike O’Connor, Vice President, Northwest Region, Ameresco. “The efficiency projects are expected to result in significant, guaranteed cost savings for the College while improving the learning environment for students and reducing its environmental impact.  This project is a text book example why energy efficiency measures are a win-win for the entire community.”

This $5 million project includes lighting retrofits, a major upgrade and modernization of the College’s Energy Management System (EMS), boiler replacements, heating piping repairs, and central chiller plant upgrades at the Downtown Campus; domestic hot water and other measures at the South Campus; and lighting and other measures at the Mohler Campus.  Upon completion, the project is designed to reduce annual energy consumption by over 1 million kWh and 10,000 therms which is expected to result up to $57,786 in annual utility savings. In addition to generating significant energy savings, the improvements will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions – including over 1,165,548 lbs of CO2 annually.

Financial support for the project includes a $2.1 million grant from the Washington Department of Commerce under the 2010 Jobs Act.  The legislation provided $100 million for energy and operational improvement projects in Washington’s public school and higher education facilities.  In addition to Bates Technical College, 52 other Ameresco Quantum clients were awarded grants from the Department of Commerce – the most of any State of Washington qualified energy services company.

About Ameresco, Inc.
Ameresco, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in April 2000 and is a leading independent provider of comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America.  Ameresco’s solutions include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure, and the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy plants.  With corporate headquarters located in Framingham, Mass., Ameresco has 55 offices in 29 states and four Canadian provinces.  For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

About Bates Technical College
Bates Technical College is Washington State’s largest public technical college, offering certificate and degree opportunities in career education, distance learning, extended learning and apprenticeship training. For more information, go to www.bates.ctc.edu (opens in new window), or call 253.680.7000.