Bath County Schools and Ameresco Kickoff Comprehensive Guaranteed Energy Savings Project

FRAMINGHAM, MA and OWINGSVILLE, KY – July 1, 2014 – Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced today that it has commenced a Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract (GESC) project with the Bath County Board of Education. The comprehensive $1.88 million GESC project is expected to save the District nearly $75,000 annually in energy and operational costs. It includes both traditional and non-traditional energy conservation measures (ECMs) across seven facilities.

As part of the energy savings contract, Ameresco will enhance the facilities spanning 295,735 square feet with ECMs including lighting upgrades and renovations, water retrofits, vending machine controls, mechanical and HVAC upgrades, building automation system enhancements, and building envelope upgrades. The project also features a behavior change educational component, an energy tracking system and a utility dashboard.

“We are pleased to partner with Ameresco to achieve several of our sustainability goals while upgrading the schools and facilities in Bath County,” said Harvey Tackett, Superintendent.  “Through the energy conservation measures, we will improve the learning environment for our students and staff while significantly enhancing the comfort and useable space in Owingsville Elementary. We also look forward to the additional benefit to our bottom-line as a result of the reduction in our overall utility consumption.”

“Ameresco is honored to work with the District to upgrade and enhance the schools and local facilities,” said Stewart Shunk, Regional Director, Ameresco. “This energy savings project is expected to deliver energy efficiency and significant financial benefit as well as enhanced comfort and environmental benefits for the school community.”

The energy usage savings is expected to reduce the District’s combined annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by over 540 metric tons a year.  This reduction in CO2 emissions is equivalent to removing approximately 970 passenger cars from the road a year, removing the electrical usage of over 111 homes a year, and planting the equivalent of 1,320 acres of trees per year.

Ameresco was originally selected through a competitive RFP process to audit and assess Bath County School’s facilities, enabling it to uncover and reinvest energy cost savings back into its facilities.

Ameresco’s pioneering of the energy savings performance contract financing model has made the solution an increasingly popular option for customers across North America. It enables budget-neutral energy efficiency upgrades by guaranteeing a minimum level of energy savings over the term of the contract and that the savings from the project will exceed the cost for the project. For the contract with the Bath County Board of Education, Ameresco coordinated the upfront project costs and the District will repay that investment with their energy savings over time.

About Bath County Schools
The number one priority in Bath County is to work together to provide every student, every student, the educational opportunities needed to ensure that when they graduate, they are college and career ready.  For more information, visit http://www.bath.k12.ky.us/.

About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. 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 70 offices in 33 states, five Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom. Ameresco has more than 900 employees. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.